Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-4rdrl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-25T10:31:35.707Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Church and State in Italy During the Last years of Pius IX

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2009

S. William Halperin
Affiliation:
The University of Chicago

Extract

During the closing years of Pius IX's pontificate the relations between church and state in Italy were marred by incessant and acrimonious strife. The occupation of Rome on September 20, 1870 had widened the breach between the civil and ecclesiastical authorities. The subsequent course of this feud brought no attenuation of existing animosities. The implacable hostility of the Vatican to the new order of things in the peninsula spurred the Italian government to take drastic measures against the church and its recalcitrant hierarchy. Decisive too in the launching of this concerted offensive was the eagerness of the country's rulers to accelerate the secularization of Italian life. To these recurrent assaults the Holy See invariably replied with a barrage of protests and denunciations which reverberated throughout the Catholic world. Each fresh crisis was accompanied by recriminations which threw into sharp relief the formidable barriers to an understanding between these seemingly irreconcilable foes.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Church History 1936

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 The literature on the Cavourian formula is rather extensive. The following are especially useful: Padelletti, Guido, “Libera Chiesa in Libero Stato: Genesi della Formula Cavouriana,” in Scritti di Diritto Pubblico, Firenze, 1881, pp. 105158Google Scholar; Benoist, Charles, “La Formule de Cavour: L'Église Libre dans l'État Libre,” Revue des Deux Mondes, 07 15, 1905, pp. 343372Google Scholar; Ruffini, Francesco, “Le origini elvetiche della formula del Conte di Cavour: ‘Libera Chiesa in libero Stato,’” in Festschrift Emil Friedberg zum Siebzigsten Geburtstage, Leipzig, 1908, pp. 199220Google Scholar; Giacometti, Zaccaria, Die Genesis von Cavours Formel Libera Chiesa in Libero Stato, Aarau, 1919.Google Scholar

2 Piux IX categorically rejected the Law of Guarantees in a powerful encyclical dated May 15, 1871. Cf. Civiltà Cattolica (hereafter cited as C. C.), 06 9, 1871, 8th series, II. 719729.Google Scholar

3 Cf. Ruffini, Francesco, Lineamenti Storici delle Relazioni fra lo Stato e la Chiesa in Italia, Torino, 1891, pp. 4041.Google Scholar

4 Cf. Pantaleoni, Diomède, “Libertà o Giurisdizione nel Regime della Chiesa e dell'Ordinamento della sua Proprietà,” Nuova Antologia, 01 1876, p. 77.Google Scholar

5 Luzzatti, Luigi, Memorie Autobiografiche e Carteggi, Bologna, 1931, I, 340.Google Scholar

6 Bonghi, R., “lie Gouvernement italien et la Papauté,” Revue des Deux Mondes, 05 1, 1873, p. 131Google Scholar; Rosi, Michele, Vittorio Emanuele II, Bologna, 1930, II, 184.Google Scholar Legislative action to deal with the administration of ecclesiastical properties was promised in article 18 of the Law of Guarantees, but none was ever taken.

7 Tavallini, Enrico, La Vita e i Tempi di Giovanni Lanza, Torino-Napoli, 1887, II, 93.Google Scholar

8 Of. di Val Cismen, De Vecchi, “Don Bosco e Giovanni Lanza,” Rassegna Storica del Risorgimento, 1934, II, 205216Google Scholar; Tavallini, , op. cit., II, 94, 434435.Google Scholar

9 Nuova Antologia, 02 1872, p. 464.Google Scholar

10 C. C., February 8, 1872, 8th series, V, 465–466.

11 Cf. Atti del Parlamento italiano (hereafter cited as Atti), 05 1–8, 1875, CCXVIII, 2830 ff.Google Scholar

12 Vigo, Pietro, Storia degli Ultimi Trent'Anni del Secolo XIX, Milano, 1908, II, 54.Google Scholar

13 Cf. Mario, Jessie White, In Memoria di Giovanni Nicotera, Firenze, 1894, p. 104.Google Scholar

14 C. C., January 20, 1877, 10th series, I, 359–360; Vigo, , op. cit. II, 158159.Google Scholar

15 Cf. Falco, Mario, “La Soppressione dei Conventi,” Rivista d'Italia, 05 1914, pp. 664665Google Scholar; Hogg, Lewis M., “Politico-Ecclesiastieal Questions of the Day in Italy,” Contemporary Review, 04 1866, pp. 642643Google Scholar; Piola, AndreaLa Questione Romana nella Storia e nel Diritto da Cavour al Trattato del Laterano, Padova, 1931, p. 32.Google Scholar

16 Bury, J. B., History of the Papacy 1864–1878, London, 1930, p. 158.Google Scholar

17 Atti, 03 18, 1871, CLXV, 1219.Google Scholar

18 C. C., September 1, 1871, 8th series. III, 741–742; ibid., October 6 and November 4, 1871, 8th series, IV, 129–139, 408–421.

19 Pius IX's letter to Antonelli, , which is dated 06 16, 1872Google Scholar, is to be found in C. C., June 28, 1872, 8th series, VII, 93–99.

20 That indefatigable adversary of the church, Garibaldi, issued a manifesto urging, among other things, the immediate suppression of the religious orders. Cf. Rosi, M., I Cairoli, Bologna, 1929, I, 243244.Google Scholar

21 Luzzatti, , op. cit., I, 334.Google Scholar

22 Cf. Gabelli, A., “Il Piogetto di Legge sulle Corporazioni Religiose,” Nuova Antologia, 10 1872, pp. 267286.Google Scholar

23 For the text of the bill cf. Atti, CLXXV, no. 136, pp. 4552.Google Scholar

24 Vigo, , op. cit., I, 222Google Scholar; Guiccioli, Alessandro, Qintino Sella, Rovigo, 18871888, I, 119.Google Scholar

25 Of. Chiala, Luigi, Giacomo Dina e l'Opera sua, nelle Vicende del Risorginen to Italiano, Torino-Roma, 1903, III, 340341.Google Scholar

26 The Roman Journals of Ferdinand Gregorovius 1852–1874, London, 1907, p. 438.Google Scholar

27 Journal Officiel, 02 14, 1873, CXCII, 10751076.Google Scholar

28 Vigo, , op. cit., I, 244245.Google Scholar

29 Atti, 05 17, 1873, CLXXXVIII, 64636472Google Scholar; Gotti, A., Vita del Barone Bettino Ricasoli, Firenze, 1898, p. 384.Google Scholar

30 It received the approval of the chamber of deputies on May 27 and that of the senate on June 17.

31 Falco, , op. cit., p. 683.Google Scholar

32 For the text of this bill see Atti, CLXXI, no. 45.Google Scholar

33 Ibid., April 30, 1872, CLXXXIII, 1821; Masaarani, Tullo, Cesare Correnti nella Vita e nette Opere, Roma, 1890, pp. 286287Google Scholar; Cilibrizzi, Saverio, Storia Parlamentare Politica e Diplomatica d'Italia, Milano-Roma-Napoli, 1925, II, 4950.Google Scholar

34 The text of the measure in question is to be found in Atti, CLXXIGoogle Scholar, no. 46.

35 Massarani, , op. cit., pp. 301302Google Scholar; Cilibrizzi, , op. cit., II, 50Google Scholar; Tavallini, , op. cit., II, 114115.Google Scholar

36 Atti, 05 18, 1872, CLXXXIII, 21552157.Google Scholar

37 A clear statement of the issue is to be found in Gabelli, A., “L'Insegnamento Religioso nelle Scuole Pubbliehe,” Nuova Antologia, 06 1872, pp. 324342.Google Scholar

38 C. C., June 21, September 9, 1872, 8th series, VII, 5–18, 678–688.

39 Palma, Luigi, “L'Insegnamento Religioso nelle Scuole Primarie e i Seminarii Ecclesiastici,” Nuova Antologia, 06 1875, pp. 334335Google Scholar; Fasulo, Aristarco, Il Primato Papale nella Storia e nel Pensiero Italiano, Roma, 1924, p. 207.Google Scholar

40 Palma, , op. cit., p. 337Google Scholar; Gabelli, , op. cit., p. 332.Google Scholar

41 For the text of this law cf. Atti, CCXXXIII, no. 42–C, pp. 36.Google Scholar

42 Civil matrimony had been incorporated into the code issued in 1865 and put into effect on January 1, 1866.

43 Padelletti, Guido, “Lo Stato ed il Matrimonio Ecclesiastico,” Nuova Antologia, 05 1874, pp. 56.Google Scholar

44 The text of the matrimony bill of December 3, 1873, is in Atti, CXCIV, no. 48, p. 11.Google Scholar

45 Ruffini, , op. cit., pp. 4142.Google Scholar

46 Atti, CXCIV, no. 48, pp. 56.Google Scholar

47 C. C., December 6, 1873, 8th series, XII, 732; ibid., May 2, 1874, 9th series, II, 480.

48 Cf. Chiala, , op. cit., III, 386387Google Scholar; Padelletti, , op. cit., p. 8.Google Scholar

49 Padelletti, Guido, “La Politica Ecclesiastica in Italia,” Nuova Antologia, 02 15, 1878, p. 673.Google Scholar It was not until 1879 that the matter was again discussed in the Italian parliament.

50 Pareto, Vilfredo, “Il Disegno di Legge contro gli Abusi del Clero,” Nuova Antologia, 01 1877, p. 139 and footnote.Google Scholar

51 Ibid., p. 140 and footnote.

52 Cf. Vigo, , op. cit., II, 1516Google Scholar; C. C., February 22, 1875, 9th series, V, 610–612.

53 The text of the clerical abuses bill is in Atti, CCXXXII, no. 20–A, pp. 4546.Google Scholar

54 Guiccioli, , op. cit., II, 138139.Google Scholar

55 Chiala, , op. cit., III, 489.Google Scholar

56 Pareto, , op. cit., pp. 161162Google Scholar; Nuova Antologia, 02 1877, pp. 434435.Google Scholar

57 Atti, 01 17–24, 3877, CCXLIV, 638 ff.Google Scholar

58 C. C., February 6, 1877, 10th series, I, 390–399.

59 Ibid., March 28, 1877, 10th series, II, 5–25; Vigo, , op. cit., II, 169171.Google Scholar

60 Leroy-Beaulien, A., “Un Roi et un Pape—II—Pie IX et le Saint-Siège,” Revue des Deux Mondes, 05 15, 1878, p. 401.Google Scholar

61 Manfroni, Camille, Sulla Soglia del Vaticano, Bologna, 1920, I, 287.Google Scholar

62 Archives Diplomatiques 1876–1877, Paris, n. d., IV, 163164.Google Scholar

63 Archives Diplomatiques 1876–1877, IV, 164167Google Scholar; Vigo, , op. cit., II, 172175.Google Scholar

64 Manfroni, , Op. cit., I, 292.Google Scholar

65 Archives Diplomatiques 1876–1877, IV, 167, 170Google Scholar; Vigo, , op. cit., II, 180–102.Google Scholar

66 Cf. Manfroni, , op. cit., I, 294Google Scholar; Vigo, , op. cit., II, 183184, 194Google Scholar; The Time, 04 2, 1877Google Scholar; L'Année politique 1877, Paris, 1878, pp. 123124Google Scholar; Europäischer Geschichtskalender 1877, Sehulthess, Herausgegeben von H., Nördlingen, 1878, pp. 210211.Google Scholar

67 L'Année politique 1877, pp. 125126Google Scholar; de Meaux, Vicomte, Souvenirs politiques 1871–1877, Paris, 1905, pp. 305307Google Scholar; Debidour, A., L'Église Catholique et l'État sous la Troisième République, Paris, 1906, I, 168169.Google Scholar Cf. also Lecanuet, P., Les Dernières Années au, Pontifícat de Pie IX 1870–1878, Paris, 1931, p. 528Google Scholar and footnote; Despagnet, F., La République et le Vatican, Paris, 1906, p, 62.Google Scholar

68 Journal Officiel, 05 4, 1877, CCXVIII, 32493258.Google Scholar Simon's allegations deeply offended Pius, who complained to a delegation of French pilgrims that he had been accused of lying.

69 Chiala, . op. cit., III, footnote, p. 490Google Scholar; Guiccioli, , op, cit., II, 142.Google Scholar

70 Atti, 05 7, 1877, CCXLIX, 9931010.Google Scholar

71 Cf. The Times, 05 9, 1877.Google Scholar

72 Typical of the attitude of moderates ia the reaction expressed by Bonghi in his article, “Pio IX e il Papato,” Nuova Antologia, 07 1877, p. 547.Google Scholar

73 Vigo, , op. cit., II, 197Google Scholar; C. C., June 5, 1877, 10th series, II, 736–737.

74 Manfroni, , op. cit., I, 103.Google Scholar

75 Ibid., I, 264–265; Vigo, , op. cit., II, 128129.Google Scholar

76 Cf. Archives Diplomatiques 1875, III, 238241Google Scholar; Vigo, , op. cit., I, 317319Google Scholar; Sandonà, Augusto, L'Irredentismo nelle Lotte politiche e nelle Contese diplomatiche italo-austriache, Bologna, 1932, I, 176.Google Scholar

77 Archives Diplomatiques 1876–1877, IV, 163.Google Scholar

78 Preeminent among those who urged that Catholics be permitted to vote in the parliamentary elections wag the famous Jesuit, Father Curci, the founder of the Civiltà Cattolica. His efforts to effect a reconciliation between church and state on terms very favorable to the former proved dismally abortive and he was expelled from the Society of Jesus. For Curci's position cf. Bonghi, E., “I Dissidii del Partito Clericale e le Proposte del Sacerdote Curci,” Nuova Antologia, 01 1, 1878, pp. 528Google Scholar; Cnrci, C. M., Il Moderno Dissidio fra la Chiesa e l'Italia, Firenze, 1878Google Scholar; Manfroni, , op. cit., I, 229230.Google Scholar

79 C. C., June 22, 1874, 9th series, III, 103; ibid., October 23, 1874, 9th series, IV, 353–354; Vigo, , op. cit., I, 388389.Google Scholar

80 C. C., January 20, February 6, 1877, 10th series, I, 355–356, 385–389.