The Fascist Regime: Catholic Church Flashcards
who was the pope after Benedict XV?
Pope Pius XI
why was Mussolini helped by the death of Pope Benedict XV?
Pope Pius XI was more concerned with communist threat —-> happy to support M bc M would defend Italy
what early policies did Mussolini introduce to win the support of the catholic church?
religious introduction was reintroduced into state secondary schools
crucifixes were restored to public building
priests had an increase in pay
what evidence is there that the catholic church supported M in his first few years as prime minister?
Pope Pius XI backed M during the Matteotti crisis
when and what agreement was signed between M and the Catholic church after 3 years of negotiations?
11 feb 1929
the lateran pacts
what did the church get under the lateran pacts? (6)
- control over vatican city independent from italian state
- compensation of £30 mil for surrendering their claim to rome
- the state would pay the salaries of the clergy
- RE would be compulsory in state schools
- no divorce without consent of the church
- catholic youth groups were allowed to continue
what did Mussolini get under the terms of the lateran pacts
- pope agreed to recognise the Italian state and its possession of rome
- catholic youth groups not allowed to carry out political activities
why did M see the lateran pacts as a success?
- admired by italian people for bringing end to the roman question
- won the support of the catholic church
- brought M support prestige overseas as the catholic church had a global reach
how does the existence of Catholic Action (youth groups) show that tensions still existed between the church and sate?
they provided a rival to fascism’s own youth and leisure organisations
increased M’s drive to create a regimented fascist nation
close down in 1931
how many members did catholic action have by 1939?
388000
when was the plebiscite and what did the catholic church do during it?
March 1929
mobilised catholic vote for the fascists which contributed to 98%of voters approving the fascist list of candidates
what did the pope do in 1931?
issues a papal encyclical that condemned the regime’s ‘ pagan worship’ of the state and its attempt to steal children from christ so they worshipped the state alone
declared catholicism and fascism as incompatible
what did M and Pope Pius XI do in Feb 1932?
confirmed mutual views on society and gender values and their agreement on foreign policy towards the soviet union and communism
Why did tension arise between the Catholic Church and Fascism in 1938?
church became concerned with M’s growing attacks on Jews and his adoption of anti-semitic legilation
