The Vatican’s relationship with the fascist regime in Italy (1922-1943)

Abstract

In February 1929, Benito Mussolini’s Fascist government and the Vatican signed a pact, officiating the reconciliation of Italy and the papacy. Known as the Lateran Accords, previous works have emphasised the pact’s role in enhancing Mussolini’s political image and restoring the sovereignty of the papacy; however, discussions on the overall relationship have been mostly overlooked. This research applies a dual framework of the church-state relations and instrumentalism to delve deeper into the partnership between the Italian Fascist government and the Vatican. Through the analysis of several archival resources such as autobiographies and encyclicals, it becomes apparent that both parties aimed to strengthen their authority over their respective domains, a goal they believed could only be achieved with each other’s support. This is further displayed through a survey of policies and reforms created and reinstated by either the Vatican or the Fascist government. Its biggest implication being on the Protestants and the Jews, which both sides aimed to marginalise; yet found themselves in a bigger conflict due to concurrent social tensions, such as the unresolved Fascist violence against Catholic institutions and the dispute over youth associations, as well as a dissimilar moral perspective on the treatment of these religious groups. Secondary sources were also utilised in this research. Hence, this research contributes new insights into the relationship’s centrality in the Italian political atmosphere and the treatment of religious minorities in Italy.