Benito Mussolini's Announcement of Dictatorial Powers - January 3, 1925
1925 · Rome, Italy
Benito Mussolini announced he would take dictatorial powers over Italy.
The Lateran Treaty: Establishing Vatican City
On February 11, 1929, the Lateran Treaty was signed, marking a pivotal moment in the relationship between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy. This agreement effectively resolved the longstanding “Roman Question” and established Vatican City as an independent sovereign state.
Historical Context
The “Roman Question” arose in 1870 when the Kingdom of Italy annexed the Papal States, including Rome, during the unification of Italy. This led to a prolonged period of tension between the Italian government and the Papacy, as the Pope refused to recognize the legitimacy of the Italian state’s control over Rome. The Popes considered themselves “prisoners in the Vatican,” and relations remained strained for decades.
Key Provisions of the Treaty
The Lateran Treaty consisted of three main components:
Treaty of Conciliation: This part recognized the full sovereignty of the Holy See in the Vatican City, a newly established independent state covering approximately 44 hectares (110 acres). It also acknowledged the Pope’s temporal power over this territory.
Financial Convention: The Italian government agreed to provide the Holy See with financial compensation for the loss of the Papal States. This included a lump sum payment and annual subsidies.
Concordat: This agreement regulated the relationship between the Italian state and the Catholic Church, granting the Church certain privileges and recognizing Catholicism as the state religion of Italy.
Significance and Aftermath
The signing of the Lateran Treaty was a landmark event, as it resolved nearly 60 years of conflict between the Italian state and the Papacy. It allowed the Catholic Church to regain a measure of temporal authority and ensured the independence of the Vatican City, which remains the smallest independent state in the world.
The treaty also had broader implications for international relations, as it established a framework for the Holy See to engage diplomatically with other nations. The resolution of the “Roman Question” helped stabilize Italy’s internal politics and improved its international standing.
In the years following the treaty, the relationship between the Italian state and the Catholic Church evolved, particularly after World War II and the establishment of the Italian Republic in 1946. The Lateran Treaty was incorporated into the Italian Constitution in 1948, further solidifying its significance.
Overall, the Lateran Treaty remains a cornerstone of Vatican-Italian relations and a significant moment in the history of the Catholic Church and modern Italy.