Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.32728/h2024.04
The Catholic Church and Italian fascism: New historiographic views and the example of Rijeka’s church history
Marko Medved
orcid.org/0000-0002-2221-9121
; Medicinski fakultet Sveučilišta u Rijeci
Sažetak
This paper examines the relationship between the Catholic Church and Italian fascism, providing an overview of the main historiographical questions and problems, taking into account domestic and foreign scientific works. The author begins with the results of research following the opening of the Vatican Apostolic Archives. It is about the pontificates of Pius XI and Pius XII, whereby the former most often remained in the of the latter and more famous Pope Eugenio Pacelli. The fact that both pontificates are connected and should be seen as such is emphasized not only because of the similarity of the challenges they faced, but also because Pacelli was in the service of Pius XI as Secretary of State. The second part of the paper analyzes the church situation in Rijeka and the Diocese of Rijeka, marked by the establishment of an independent Italian diocese and national tensions during fascism. The establishment of an independent diocese in 1925 is crucial for the ecclesiastical history of Rijeka between the two World Wars, i.e., during the Italian administration. Namely, the Diocese of Rijeka was established by the bull of Pope Pius XI, Supremum pastorale munus, and included members of three nations: Croats, Slovenes, and Italians. In pre-concordat conditions, with the aid of the state, which was interested in having an Italian diocese and Italian clergy on the eastern state borders, new church structures were formed – parish and diocesan. The foundation of the diocese was possible precisely because the interests of the civil and church authorities coincided. The church history of Rijeka during the age of Italian fascism and its historiography opens various questions, including the need to make efforts that will lead to a reconciled memory.
Ključne riječi
Fascism; Nazism; Pius XI; Pius XII; Rijeka; Diocese of Rijeka; Antonio Santin
Hrčak ID:
340509
URI
Datum izdavanja:
8.12.2025.
Posjeta: 608 *