Pius IX., despite the affection that is entertained for him by many of the Romans, is still believed to have the "evil eye"—to be a Jettatore, which means that to be merely stared at by him brings one bad luck. He blessed Italy in 1848, and Italy went to ruin. He excommunicated Italy in 1859, and things have gone right ever since. Besides these great examples of jettatura, people tell of men having had their legs broken just after receiving the Pope's benediction. The very women who used to kneel to him in the streets as he passed were accustomed to make a certain sign with their hands—a sign, which, according to the traditions, would destroy the influence of the jettatura.