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