Italy’s Civil Religion after 1870

Episode Narrative

In 1870, a pivotal chapter unfolded in the history of Italy and the Catholic Church. The Kingdom of Italy captured Rome, marking the dissolution of the Papal States. This event was not merely a military conquest; it heralded the dawn of a new civic era. The Italian state would seize Church lands, asserting its authority over territories that had been under papal control for centuries. This clash set the stage for a profound transformation of Italian civil religion, intertwining nationalism and a redefined relationship with faith.

The years that followed brought a wave of anticlericalism, as the newly unified Italy began to promote secularism with fervor. Between 1871 and 1914, tensions flared between the state and the Catholic Church. The Vatican, feeling its temporal power wane, issued the Non Expedit policy. It urged Italian Catholics to abstain from participating in elections, a symbolic protest against their loss of influence. This decision underscored a fracture between the church and state, a line etched deeply into the fabric of Italian society.

In the aftermath of the unification, statues of kings and national heroes began to dot the public squares of Italy. These monuments served more than ornamental purposes; they were symbols of a nascent civil religion that celebrated the Risorgimento, the movement that led to Italy’s unification. The reverence for the state took on a quasi-religious quality, as citizens found identity in the shared narratives of their new nation.

Yet, while the state sought to consolidate its power, it faced resistance from traditional structures. The Casati Law, enacted in 1859, had already set in motion the creation of a national education system that emphasized secular schooling. This presented a challenge to the Church, which had long held sway over education, particularly in southern Italy. Struggles over the control of primary education illustrated the broader cultural conflict, laying bare the tensions between modernity and tradition.

As the late 19th century rolled in, the echoes of ancient and medieval glory became a point of pilgrimage for many. Ruins and historical sites morphed into shrines of collective memory, reinforcing a national identity steeped in history and myth. This phenomenon contributed to a growing civic cult, binding people together through shared remembrance of ancestors who had forged the path to unification.

In families across Italy, the changing norms became palpable. Mixed marriages between Catholics and non-Catholics emerged as a social issue, reflecting the tensions between cherished religious traditions and the encroachment of a secularizing state. Individuals found themselves navigating the complexities of religious feast days alongside new civic rituals, like the act of voting, which began to emerge as a cornerstone of civic engagement. The ritual of casting a ballot gradually took the place of religious festivals, marking a shift in what it meant to belong to the Italian nation-state.

Between 1870 and 1914, the Church faced direct assaults on its economic base and influence. The state confiscated Church properties, redistributing lands and buildings as part of its secularization efforts. This profound unsettledness would reverberate through Italian society, weakening the traditional structures that had long provided for the spiritual and social needs of the populace.

Even though the Non Expedit policy would see moments of relaxation, its shadow loomed large over Catholic engagement in politics. This sanction shaped the behavior of many Catholics, informing the development of political parties that sought to navigate the complex relationship between faith and civic duty. However, the resolution of this tension would not come until after 1914, as the Church sought to reestablish a foothold in the public arena.

One of the hallmarks of this period was the state’s relentless push for literacy and mass education. Particularly in southern Italy, where ecclesiastical institutions had held dominion, the implementation of literacy campaigns served as a stark reminder of the cultural transformation underway. Educational reforms often collided with local ecclesiastical authorities, whose longstanding control was now being challenged by a state eager to modernize.

By the late 19th century, a new civic calendar emerged, filled with national holidays commemorating the events that shaped Italy’s unified identity. These secular celebrations often competed with the Catholic liturgical calendar for allegiance and attention. Over time, the shift from religious observance to civic pride became increasingly evident, as the new state established a rhythm of public life grounded in national pride.

This period also saw the rise of anticlerical political movements and Freemasonry, which posed significant challenges to the Church’s enduring social dominance. These movements propagated secularism and rationalism, advocating for a civic identity divorced from religious authority. The arts mirrored this cultural evolution. Composers like Verdi explored these themes in their operas, reflecting the tensions between devotion and modern nationalism.

Meanwhile, the Church faced a profound reckoning. Its response to the new Italian state involved fortifying its spiritual authority while grappling with diminished political power. The Church adapted its practices, emphasizing devotional activities as a means to maintain relevance in a society increasingly influenced by secular concerns.

The government’s secularization policies extended to the suppression of certain religious orders, reconfiguring the relationship between church and state that would only reach a semblance of resolution with the Lateran Treaties in the years after 1914. These policies aimed to develop a civic religion rooted in Italy’s illustrious past — symbols from ancient Rome and the Renaissance were incorporated into the narrative of the modern Italian identity, linking the present to a glorious historical lineage, thus legitimizing the authority of the Italian state.

As the Italian state endeavored to unify the diverse regional identities under its expanding banner, the promotion of a common language became crucial. Yet, this push often clashed with local dialects and religious traditions, emphasizing the complexities of forging a single narrative in a land abundant with unique identities and rich histories.

Despite its political isolation following the Non Expedit, the Catholic Church did not simply recede into the shadows. The isolation prompted the emergence of Catholic social organizations and lay movements aimed at preserving religious influence in Italian society. These movements sought to adapt, finding a way to maintain a foothold in a rapidly changing sociopolitical landscape.

As this narrative unfolds, it is paramount to reflect on the legacies woven into the fabric of modern Italy. The reductions in Church authority and the rise of a civil religion marked a profound shift in the Italian identity, blending nationalism with the echoes of devotion. The question remains: How do we reconcile the past with the present in the ongoing journey of national identity? The struggles fought, the statues erected, and the changes implemented serve as both reminders and lessons in the complex relationship between faith, governance, and the people themselves.

In the twilight of this transformation, we see not merely a nation arising from the ashes of discord but a society grappling with the very essence of belonging, creating a tapestry rich with the threads of history, spirituality, and the relentless quest for identity.