M3- Relationship with the Catholic Church

Question 1

what did Mussolini declare Catholicism to be in the New Programme?

Answer 1

the political force which would bring out Italian unity and nationalism

Question 2

what did Mussolini say about Fascism’s view of the Catholic Church?

Answer 2

that fascism neither preaches nor practices anticlericalism

Question 3

when did Pope Pius XI become Pope?

Answer 3

January 1922

Question 4

why did Pius XI appreciate fascism?

Answer 4

he saw it as the only means in which Italy could be saved from a left-wing revolution

Question 5

why did the RCC hate the socialists/communists?

Answer 5

they claimed that their societies had no God

Question 6

why did the RCC hate the Liberals?

Answer 6

they had been anti-Catholic throughout their time in office

Question 7

what policies did Mussolini introduce which benefitted the RCC?

Answer 7

• religious education was reintroduced
• crucifixes were restored to public buildings
• priests got a pay rise
• ban on freemasonry
• ban on anticlerical journals
• dropped proposed plans to tax church property

Question 8

what personal commitment did Mussolini take to get closer to the RCC?

Answer 8

he had his 3 children baptised and married his wife in a church

Question 9

what happened to the PPI?

Answer 9

the Pope supported the PNF instead as they were willing to support the Church

he no longer gave any support to the PPI

Question 10

when was Luigi Sturzo ordered to resign?

Answer 10

1923

Pope ordered his resignation and called for PPI members to support the PNF instead

Question 11

what was the Pope’s position on the Matteotti crisis?

Answer 11

he backed Mussolini and the PNF

Question 12

when were the Lateran Pacts signed?

Answer 12

11 February 1929

Question 13

what were the three sections of the Lateran Pacts?

Answer 13

a treaty
a financial convention
a Concordat

Question 14

how much land did the Lateran Pacts give to the Pope?

Answer 14

44 hectares

the sovereign state of the Vatican City

Question 15

how much compensation did the Lateran Pacts give to the Pope?

Answer 15

750 million lire
in compensation for the loss of Church land in 1870

Question 16

what did the Lateran Pacts outline about Catholic youth groups?

Answer 16

they were allowed to continue as long as they did not interfere with Italian politics

Question 17

what were Catholic youth groups called?

Answer 17

Catholic Action

Question 18

key aspects of the Lateran Pacts

Answer 18

• 44 hectares of land given to the Pope
• gave the pope 750 million lire for compensation
• Catholicism was recognised as the official state religion in Italy
• Catholic youth groups allowed to continue as long as no political activities were occurring

Question 19

how were the Lateran Pacts significant for Mussolini?

Answer 19

he was the man who had solved the Roman Question

his prestige had increased both in Italy and abroad

he now had the support of the RCC which would allow him to complete his consolidation of power

Question 20

how were the Lateran Pacts a limitation of Mussolini’s dictatorship?

Answer 20

can be seen as a major concession made by Mussolini

he was not the ultimate, unchallenged ruler of Italy as he had given the Church a lot of influence over the Italian people through the Lateran Pacts

Question 21

in what way had Church support help M?

Answer 21

in the March 1929 plebiscite

support of economic, social and foreign policy in the 1930s

Question 22

what did M use the plebiscites for?

Answer 22

so that he could claim that he had the support of the Italian people behind him

Question 23

how had the Church supported Mussolini in the March 1929 plebiscite?

Answer 23

as a part of the Lateran Pacts, the Church were obliged to voice their support for the Fascists

Catholic Action appealed to voters to vote ‘yes’

Question 24

result of the 1929 plebiscite?

Answer 24

98% of 8.63 million voted yes

led to the approvement of the Lateran Pacts

Question 25

what went on to be the main area of tension between M and the RCC?

Answer 25

the Catholic Action groups

Question 26

what became the problem with Catholic Action?

Answer 26

• former PPI members became leaders
• accused of trying to form trade unions
• accused of being anti-fascist
• accused of playing sport

Question 27

what was the Pope’s response to opposition to Catholic Action?

Answer 27

he had argued that the Fascists were trying to steal children from Christ to make them worship the state

Question 28

what deal was struck between M and the RCC in 1931?

Answer 28

• keep Catholic Action
• more restriction and surveillance
• NO political direction or indoctrination
• NO sport

Question 29

why did M not want Catholic Action playing sport?

Answer 29

it would rival his own ONB

Question 30

how many members were there of Catholic Action in 1930?

Answer 30

250,000

Question 31

how many members of Catholic youth organisations by 1939?

Answer 31

388,000

Question 32

what aspects of Fascist life were condemned by the RCC?

Answer 32

girls’ involvement in sport
- RCC believed they should be trained to be maternal figures

the culture of prostitution amongst young Italian Fascists
- prostitution became a part of Fascist culture

Question 33

what became a problem for the RCC in 1938?

Answer 33

M’s growing anti-semitic legislation and the persecution of Jews

Question 34

who succeeded Pius XI in December 1939?

Answer 34

Pius XII

Question 35

what was Pius XII view of anti-Semitic legislation?

Answer 35

he would allow Mussolini to enforce his anti-Semitic legislation during WW2