***(3) Relationship with the Catholic Church Flashcards
What had Mussolini originally called for with regards to the church in his 1919 policy?
The confiscation of all church property.
How did the PNF’s policy towards the church change with the new programme in 1920?
Fascist policy was no longer anticlerical and Mussolini declared that Catholicism could be used as a political force to drive Italian unity and nationalism.
How was the relationship between the PNF and the Church strengthened with the death of Benedict XV in 1922?
His successor, Pope Pius XI was predominantly concerned with the communist threat in Italy and saw fascism as the antidote to the menace from the left. He was happy to support Mussolini as PM.
What policies did Mussolini introduce early on which were favourable to the Catholic Church?
Increased clerical pay, reintroduced religious education in schools and restored crucifixes in public buildings.
What did Mussolini promise the Vatican that he would do by January 1923?
That his government would bail out the Bank of Rome.
What did Mussolini ban?
Freemasonry (cults) and anticlerical journals.
What proposed policies did Mussolini drop?
Proposed policies on taxing church property.
What was the result of Mussolini’s pro-Church policies on the PPI?
Undermined the PPI as the Pope had put his support behind the PNF at the expense of the PPI.
Who did Pius XI order to resign in June 1923?
The PPI leader, Luigi Sturzo.
When were the Lateran Pacts signed by Mussolini and the Catholic Church?
11 February 1929 - after 3 years of negotiations.
What did the Lateran Pacts officially end?
The conflict between the church and state that had existed since 1871.
What did the Pope agree to recognise? What did the state recognise in return?
Pope agreed to recognise the Italian state and its possession of Rome and the old Papal states. In return, the state recognised the Pope’s control over the Vatican City as a part of Rome but independent from the Italian state.
How much financial compensation did the Pope receive for surrendering his claim to Rome?
£30 million
What did the Lateran Pacts make Catholicism?
The sole religion of Italy.
What would be made compulsory in state schools? (after LPs)
Religious education of a Catholic nature.
What were Catholic youth groups allowed to do? (after LPs)
Allowed to continue as long as they did not carry out political activity.
What was the name of the only non-fascist organisation that was allowed to continue after the Lateran Pacts?
Catholic Action
What were the successes for Mussolini by signing the Lateran Pacts?
- The conflict between church and state appeared to have been solved.
- Mussolini’s prestige in Italy and abroad had been extended.
- Solved the Roman Question.
What did the Lateran Pacts mark in terms of state-Church relations?
The high point
What did the Lateran Pacts say about the agreement of power between the state and church?
That the PNF and Church had a sort of unsaid power-sharing agreement that suited both of them - showed the limitations of M’s dictatorship.
What organisation did the Church sponsor?
Catholic Action
What was Catholic Action?
A rival to fascism’s own youth and leisure organisations. It had 250,000 members.
What idea was the Catholic church very concerned with?
The idea of one being completely loyal to the state - this did not seem to leave room for an individual to also be Catholic.
What did the Church support in 1935?
Mussolini’s invasion of Abyssinia
