Fascist / Catholicism Flashcards
Key views of Pope Pius XI
Anti-communist / feared a communist take over would destroy the church’s role.
Support the fascists as an alternative to communists
How did Mussolini initally gain the support of the church/Pope ?
Reinstated Religious Education in State Secondary Schools
Restored crucifixes in public buildings
increased clerical pay
Mussolini supported the failing Bank of Rome - which the catholic church was largely tied to.
Banned freemasonry + anti-clerical journals
Mussolini’s children baptised
How did the power of the PPI reduce ?
Fascist pro-catholic policy undermined PPI
In 1923 - Pope Pius orders Sturzo (PPI Leader) to resign
Pope Pius declares support of the PNF
Lateran Pacts
Signed Feb 1929
A treaty, a finanical convention + concordat
Key Points -
Pope given a soveriegn state of 44 hectares in Rome
750 million lire + 1,000 million state bonds for compensation of the lost terrirory (1870)
Catholicism recognised as sole religion of Italy
Church given control over RE in primary + secondary
Catholic Action could run (no political activity)
Outcome of LP for Mussolini
Solved the 50 year old Roman Question
Gained admiration of the Italian people + considerable prestige abroad.
Cemented his consolidation of power
Potentially showed limitations of his power
CA appealed for voter to support Mussolini in the 1929 Plebiscite
Outcome of LP for Church / Pope
Extended role / influence over the lives of Italians
Revival of Catholicism - eg. increased number of catholic marriages
Evidence for Catholic support of PNF
1929 - 90% supported concordat plebiscite + fascist list of electoral candidates approved by 98%.
Catholic support consistent - eg. 1934 plebiscite
Why did tensions rise in the 1930s with the church
Giurati + Scorza become PNF secretary + head of youth
CA accused of organising sport (banned in LP)
CA accused of hiding anti-fascists (ex-PPI)
Police Raids + Fascists violence against the CA.
CA was banned
Pope Pius XI’s response to growing tensions in the 1930s.
Attacked Fascism - strong encylical ‘We have no need’ (1931)
Condemed Mussolini’s attempt to ‘steal children from christ’
Resolution of CA tensions
The relationship between M + P was beneficial
1931 - CA reinstated: no sports allowed, activities had to be catholic related, former PPI could not be youth leaders.
1932 - Mussolini visits the Pope and they agree on mutual societal + gender views.
CA popularity membership (1939)
388,000 members
Church response to Anti-Jewish Laws
1938
Anti-Jewish Decree broke Concordat.
Pope commisisioned a letter denouncing Fascist racism but it was never published as he died in 1938.
