Life in Fascist ItalyMussolini and the Roman Catholic
Church
By Bridget O’Hara, Anna Lodge, Evelyn Bravo, Jorah Smith, andMaddie Hammerschmidt
Who was Mussolini???
● He was an Italian politician● Journalist and leader of the Fascist Party● He ruled the country as Prime Minister
○ Dropped everything about democracy and set up a legal dictatorship.
Young Mussolini and the Church
● Was raised to dislike Church● Mussolini Sr. was a committed Socialist, and he disliked
the power of the Church● Young Mussolini referred to Priests as “Black Germs”
● Once he reached power in 1922, he changed his views● Realized that the pope “represents 400 million men
scattered the world over”● Recognized that this is a huge power
Young Mussolini and the Church cont.
Winning over the Church● Needed to win over Church to improve his view in the Public’s eyes● Had his children baptized in 1923.● Had a religious marriage ceremony with his common-law wife Rachele in
1926● Closed down many wine shops and night clubs● Swearing in public was made a crime
● Pushed ideas of the Church
○ Women should stay home while men worked
○ Disapproved of contraception
○ Wanted to ban divorce● Trying to bring credibility to his government
Winning over the Church cont.
Lateran Treaty
● Created in 1929● It was between the Kingdom of Italy and the Holy See● It was a concordat regulating relations between the
Catholic Church and the Italian state● Signed February 11, 1929
○ Ratified by Italian parliament June 7, 1929
Lateran Treaty cont.
• Papal States lost land in 1879 during unification
• Church received £30 million in compensation (1929)
• 109 acres in rome as new papal state~ The Vatican
• Allowed small army, police force, post office, and rail station
• 1929- mussolini’s popularity was at its highest
• Mussolini and the Roman Catholic Church were to quarrel fought in 1930’s
• Quickly made up
• Pope sent letter protesting Charter of Race
Concordat
● Another part of the treaty● Roman Catholic Church became state religion● Pope appointed bishops, but they had to receive the
Government’s approval● Religion had to be taught in primary and secondary
school● Church was given full control of Marriage
Charter of Race● July 1938● Took away the Jews right of Italian nationality● No longer allowed to:
○ Teach
○ Have state jobs
○ Be members of the Fascist party
○ Work a bank or insurance company
○ Marry non-jewish italians
○ Join the army● Laws were so unpopular the Pope sent a disapproving letter to Mussolini
about what was happening
Work Cited
Charter of Race (http://histclo.com/essay/war/ww2/hol/cou/ita/hi-race.html)
Mussolini and the Roman Catholic Church article
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benito_Mussolini
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