Italy
Stored: Italian Republic
| Country: Italian Republic | |
| Historic: | No |
| Existence: | 1861– |
| Continent: | Europe |
| Region: | Southern Europe |
| Historical Region: | Mediterranean |
| Area: | 301340 km² |
| Population: | 59000000 |
| Catholic Population: | 47000000 |
| Catholic Percentage: | 80% |
| Catholicism Status: | Majority religion |
| Official Languages: | Italian |
| Capital: | Rome |
| Catholicism Introduced: | 1st century AD |
| Ecclesiastical Provinces: | 42 |
| Dioceses: | 226 |
| Patron Saints: | Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Catherine of Siena |
| Predecessor States: | Papal States, Kingdom of Sardinia |
| Successor States: | |
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a nation in Southern Europe spanning approximately 301,340 km², with a population of about 59 million as of 2023.[1] Its official language is Italian, and its economy relies on tourism, manufacturing, and agriculture. The Catholic Church, with approximately 47 million Catholics (80%) as of 2023, is the majority religion, introduced in the 1st century AD by apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul.[2] Centered in Rome, home to the Vatican City and sites like the Basilica of Saint Peter, the Church profoundly shapes Italy’s cultural and spiritual identity, with devotion to Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Catherine of Siena.
Geography
Italy covers 301,340 km², located in Southern Europe, bordered by France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, and the Mediterranean Sea.[3] Its Mediterranean climate supports agriculture and tourism, vital for Catholic communities in regions like Tuscany and Umbria. Major cities include Rome, Milan, and Assisi, with Rome hosting the Vatican City and the Basilica of Saint Peter. Italy’s geography, with its historic pilgrimage routes like the Via Francigena, fosters Catholic devotion.[4]
History
Italy unified as a modern state in 1861, emerging from the Papal States, Kingdom of Sardinia, and other regional entities.[5] Catholicism was introduced in the 1st century AD by Saint Peter and Saint Paul, with Rome becoming the center of the Catholic Church.[6] The Church’s influence persisted through the Roman Empire, Middle Ages, and modern era, shaping Italy’s cultural and political landscape.
Demographics
Italy’s population is approximately 59 million as of 2023, with 80% identifying as Catholic.[7] Catholics number approximately 47 million, concentrated in urban centers like Rome and rural areas like Sicily.[8] Ethnic Italians dominate (95%), with minorities including Romanians and North Africans. Secularization is increasing, but Catholicism remains dominant.[9]
Catholic church
The Catholic Church in Italy operates through 42 ecclesiastical provinces and 226 dioceses, serving approximately 47 million Catholics, led by the Pope in Vatican City.[10] The Church, primarily Latin Rite, includes parishes across Italy and supports extensive educational and charitable networks through organizations like Caritas Italy.
Structure
The Catholic Church in Italy has 42 ecclesiastical provinces, with dioceses under metropolitan bishops.[11] Key jurisdictions include:
- Latin Rite:
- Archdiocese of Rome (Rome)
- Archdiocese of Milan (Milan)
- Archdiocese of Florence (Florence)
- Archdiocese of Naples (Naples)
- Diocese of Assisi (Assisi)
- Armenian Rite:
- None
- Chaldean Rite:
- None
- Syriac Rite:
- None
Introduction of Catholicism
Catholicism was introduced in the 1st century AD by Saint Peter and Saint Paul, who established the Church in Rome, making it the epicenter of Christianity.[12] The Church grew rapidly, becoming the state religion of the Roman Empire by 380 AD.
Key historical events
Milestones include the martyrdom of Saint Peter and Saint Paul (circa 64–68 AD), the Edict of Thessalonica (380 AD), and the establishment of Vatican City as a sovereign state in 1929 via the Lateran Treaty.[13] The Church’s role in Italian unification (1861–1870) was significant.[14]
Catholicism status
The Catholic Church is Italy’s majority religion, with 80% of the population identifying as Catholic.[15] Italy’s constitution grants religious freedom, but Catholicism enjoys cultural prominence. The Church faces challenges from secularization but remains influential.[16]
Predecessor states
Italy emerged from the Papal States, Kingdom of Sardinia, and other regional states, unified in 1861.[17] The Roman Empire and medieval city-states also shaped its historical identity.
Successor states
Italy remains a modern state with no successor states since its unification in 1861.[18]
Cultural influence
Festivals and traditions
Catholics celebrate Christmas, Easter, and feasts like Saint Francis of Assisi’s (October 4) with processions and liturgies.[19] Pilgrimages to Assisi and Loreto are widespread.
Education and charity
The Church runs schools, universities, and hospitals, with Caritas Italy aiding migrants and the poor, aligning with Catholic Social Teaching.[20]
Art and architecture
Catholic heritage is reflected in the Basilica of Saint Peter, Sistine Chapel, and Assisi’s Basilica of Saint Francis, showcasing Renaissance and medieval art.[21]
Notable Catholic sites
Pilgrimage sites
The Basilica of Saint Peter in Vatican City and Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi are major pilgrimage destinations.[22]
Historical churches
The Basilica of Saint John Lateran and Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome are significant historical sites.[23]
Saints and blesseds
Patron saints
Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Catherine of Siena, revered for their spiritual legacy, are Italy’s patron saints.[24]
Associated saints and blesseds
Saints include Saint Peter, martyred circa 64 AD, canonized in the 1st century; Saint Francis of Assisi, died 1226, canonized in 1228; and Saint Catherine of Siena, died 1380, canonized in 1461.[25] Blessed Carlo Acutis, beatified in 2020, is a modern figure.[26]
Dynamic list of saints
| Saint | SaintStage | FeastDay | Patronage | Attributes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blessed John Licci | Blessed | November 14 | head injuries; crushed heads | Dominican habit; beam of wood; loaf of bread |
| Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd | Blessed | November 21 | Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth; Poland | habit of the Sisters; book (her writings); model of the Holy Family |
| Blessed Villana de'Botti | Blessed | February 28 | Against temptation; conversion; lay Dominicans | Dominican habit; rosary |
| Pope Saint Anastasius I | Saint | December 19 | Papal tiara; keys | |
| Pope Saint Clement I | Saint | November 23 | Mariners; stonecutters; marble workers; sick children | Anchor; papal tiara; fountain |
| Pope Saint Damasus I | Saint | December 11 | Archaeologists | Papal tiara, pallium, episcopal vestments, book, inscription tablet |
| Pope Saint Eleutherius | Saint | May 26 | papal tiara; book | |
| Pope Saint Gelasius I | Saint | November 21 | popes; civil servants; against simony | papal tiara and keys; book (decretals) |
| Pope Saint Soter | Saint | April 22 | Catholic Church in Corinth | Papal tiara; keys |
| Saint Albert the Great | Saint | November 15 | Scientists; philosophers; natural sciences; medical technicians; students | Dominican habit; book; globe; astrolabe |
| Saint Alexander I | Saint | May 03 | papal tiara; sword (martyrdom) | |
| Saint Alphonsus Liguori | Saint | August 01 | Theologians; moralists; confessors; final exams; arthritis sufferers | Bishop's crozier; book (moral theology); chained demon |
| Saint Anacletus | Saint | April 26 (traditional); July 13 (current Roman Martyrology) | papal tiara; pallium | |
| Saint Anastasia of Sirmium | Saint | December 25 (Catholic) December 22 (Greek Orthodox) September 28 (Syriac Orthodox) | Weavers; against storms; widows; nurses | Palm branch; scourge; torch |
| Saint Andrew the Apostle | Saint | November 30 | Scotland; Russia; Greece; fishermen; fishmongers; rope makers; against sore throat; against gout; brides | Cross saltire; net; fish; book |
| Saint Anthony the Hermit | Saint | December 28 | Hermits; miracle-seekers | Hermit staff; desert landscape |
| Saint Bibiana | Saint | December 02 | Those suffering from headaches; against hangovers; widows; those falsely accused | Scourge; palm branch; column; pitcher of water |
| Saint Bridget of Sweden | Saint | July 23 | Europe, Sweden, widows | Book, pilgrim's staff, crown |
| Saint Callistus I | Saint | October 14 | Cemetery workers | Papal keys; martyr's palm |
| Saint Camillus de Lellis | Saint | July 18 | Nurses; the sick; hospitals; military chaplains | Red cross on habit; patient on bed; lily |
| Saint Carlo Acutis | Saint | October 12 | Computer programmers, youth, internet | Jeans, sneakers, backpack, computer |
| Saint Castorius | Saint | November 08 | Sculptors; stonemasons; quarry workers | Sculptor's chisel; crown of martyrdom; molten lead vat |
| Saint Catherine of Alexandria | Saint | November 25 | Alexandria; maidens; philosophers; students; wheelwrights; millers; educators; unmarried girls; craftsmen who work with a wheel (potters; spinners; etc.) | Breaking wheel; sword; crown; book; palm of martyrdom |
| Saint Catherine of Siena | Saint | April 29 | Italy, Europe, nurses, sick people, against fire, miscarriages | Dominican habit, lily, book, crown of thorns |
| Saint Cecilia | Saint | November 22 | music; musicians; poets; singers; the blind; throat illnesses | organ; sword; roses; martyr's palm |
| Saint Charles Borromeo | Saint | November 04 | Bishops; archbishops; catechists; cardinals; catechumens; spiritual directors; Seminary of Majano; Milan; Monza; Briosco | Cardinal's hat; book; lily; mitre |
| Saint Christopher | Saint | July 25 | travelers; motorists; bachelors; against sudden death; storms; toothache | carrying Christ child on shoulders; staff; giant stature |
| Saint Clare of the Cross | Saint | August 17 | Montefalco; those suffering from heart ailments | cross implanted in her heart; symbols of the Passion (crown of thorns, lance, nails) |
| Saint Clement I | Saint | November 23 | mariners; stonecutters; marble workers | anchor; papal tiara; keys |
| Saint Crispin | Saint | October 25 | Shoemakers; tanners; leather workers; saddle makers; curriers | Awl; shoemaker's knife; cobbler's tools |
| Saint Crispinian | Saint | October 25 | Shoemakers; tanners; leather workers; saddle makers; curriers | Awl; shoemaker's knife; cobbler's tools |
| Saint Domninus of Fidenza | Saint | October 09 | Fidenza; against rabies | Sword; palm of martyrdom |
| Saint Edmund Campion | Saint | December 01 | Roman Catholic writers; Catholic journalists; those suffering from dysentery; those falsely accused; the Jesuits | Man with noose or chained; wearing a Jesuit habit; carrying a tree |
| Saint Erasmus of Formia | Saint | June 02 | Sailors; mariners; abdominal pains; cramps; firemen; Formia; Gaeta | Windlass with intestines; anchor; fire |
| Saint Eugenia of Alexandria | Saint | December 16 | False accusations; disguised identities; monks; virgins | Monastic habit; palm branch; sword |
| Saint Eugenia of Rome | Saint | December 25 | Against false accusations; disguised people; monks; virgins | Monastic habit; palm branch; sword |
| Saint Evaristus | Saint | October 26 | papal tiara; pallium | |
| Saint Felicity of Carthage | Saint | November 25 (joint with Perpetua) | Mothers; pregnant women; childbirth; widows; Carthage, Tunisia | Palm branch; infant; chains |
| Saint Francis Borgia | Saint | September 30, October 3 (Jesuits) | Jesuits; against earthquakes; Portugal; Rota; Marianas | Skull crowned with an emperor's diadem |
| Saint Francis of Assisi | Saint | October 04 | animals and ecology; Italy; merchants; Franciscan order | stigmata; birds; wolf; skull and crossbones |
| Saint Gatianus of Tours | Saint | December 18 | Tours; missionaries in France | Mitre; palm |
| Saint Gemma Galgani | Saint | April 11 | Pharmacists, students, tuberculosis patients, those suffering from back pain, headaches, loss of parents, parachutists, paratroopers | Stigmata, Passionist habit, lilies |
| Saint Gregory of Spoleto | Saint | December 24 | Spoleto | Sword; book; palm of martyrdom |
| Saint Gregory the Great | Saint | September 03 | choir boys; educators; masons; musicians; popes; students; singers; against gout; against plague | dove on his shoulder; papal tiara and keys; book of his writings |
| Saint Hyginus | Saint | January 11 | papal tiara; book | |
| Saint Ignatius of Loyola | Saint | July 31 | Jesuits; retreats; educators; military chaplains; against depression | book (Spiritual Exercises); soldier’s armor; chalice; dove |
| Saint John Berchmans | Saint | November 26 | Altar servers; students; seminarians | Crucifix; rosary; book of rules |
| Saint John of Capistrano | Saint | October 23 | Military chaplains; judges; jurists; lawyers | Banner with IHS monogram; preaching pulpit; arrow |
| Saint John the Evangelist | Saint | December 27 | theologians; writers; bookbinders; printers; Asia Minor | eagle; chalice with serpent; book or scroll |
| Saint John XXIII | Saint | October 11 | Papal delegates; Second Vatican Council; Patriarchate of Venice | Papal tiara; keys; dove of peace; Vatican II documents |
| Saint Josephine Bakhita | Saint | February 08 | human trafficking victims; Sudan; Africa | chains; nun's habit; palm of martyrdom |
| Saint Leo the Great | Saint | November 10 | musicians; against plagues; theologians | papal tiara and keys; book (Tome to Flavian); meeting Attila the Hun |
| Saint Linus | Saint | September 23 | papal tiara; pallium | |
| Saint Lucy | Saint | December 13 | Blind; eye ailments; throat infections; writers; martyrs; Syracuse, Italy; virgins | Pair of eyes on a cup or plate; palm branch; lamp; dagger |
| Saint Luke the Evangelist | Saint | October 18 | physicians; surgeons; artists; notaries; bachelors; students; butchers | Winged ox; painter's palette and brushes; physician's cap; book; painting of the Madonna |
| Saint Maria Crocifissa Di Rosa | Saint | December 15 | Handmaids of Charity; Bergamo, Italy | Religious habit; lamp; book of rules |
| Saint Maria Giuseppa Rossello | Saint | December 07 | Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy | Religious habit; book of the rule |
| Saint Martin of Tours | Saint | November 11 | Soldiers; France; horses; against poverty; conscientious objectors | Cloak divided by sword; goose; beggar |
| Saint Maurice d'Agaune | Saint | September 22 | Soldiers; Theban Legion; Alps; Burgundy; Caserta; Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf; Piedmont; Speyer; against gout; cramps; skin disease; dyers; swordsmiths; infantrymen; clothworkers; Milanese; Piedmontese; Lombards | Sword; banner; lance; knight's armour; palm of martyrdom |
| Saint Maximus of Turin | Saint | June 25 | Turin; against childhood diseases | Bishop's mitre; book of sermons |
| Saint Monica | Saint | August 27 | Mothers, wives, abused women, alcoholics | Veil, tears, praying hands, book |
| Saint Narcissus of Jerusalem | Saint | October 29 | Against false accusations | Lamp; pitcher of water; thistle |
| Saint Nemesius of Alexandria | Saint | December 17 | Alexandria, Egypt; deacons | Palm branch; deacon's dalmatic |
| Saint Nicholas | Saint | December 06 | Children; sailors; pawnbrokers; brides; repentant thieves; Russia; Greece; Sicily | Three golden balls; anchor; ship; children in tub |
| Saint Olympias of Constantinople | Saint | December 17 | Deaconesses; widows; against unjust persecution | Veil; book of letters; church model |
| Saint Padre Pio | Saint | September 23 | adolescents; civil defense volunteers; stress relief; Pietrelcina, Italy | stigmata |
| Saint Paul of the Cross | Saint | October 19 | Passionists; Ovada, Italy; Hungary | Passionist habit; crucifix |
| Saint Philomena | Saint | August 11 | Living Rosary; infants; the poor; the sick; sailors; against poverty; expectant mothers | arrows; palm; scourge; anchor; white robe |
| Saint Polycarp of Smyrna | Saint | February 23 | against dysentery; against earaches | palm of martyrdom; pyre or flames; sometimes a dove |
| Saint Rose of Viterbo | Saint | September 04 | flower-growers; Viterbo; against parental abuse | crown of roses; lamp; model in Dominican habit |
| Saint Rose Venerini | Saint | May 07 | Exiles; people rejected by religious orders; tertiaries; Viterbo, Italy | Book; teaching pointer; habit |
| Saint Saturninus of Toulouse | Saint | November 29 | Toulouse; missionaries in France | Bull; chains; palm of martyrdom |
| Saint Sebastian | Saint | January 20 | athletes; soldiers; archers; against plagues; gardeners | arrows; palm frond; soldier's armor; bound to a tree |
| Saint Sixtus I | Saint | April 03 | papal tiara; sword of martyrdom | |
| Saint Sylvester I | Saint | December 31 | Animals; New Year; Rome | Papal tiara; dragon (legendary); baptismal font |
| Saint Telesphorus | Saint | January 05 (Western); February 22 (Eastern) | papal tiara; chalice with three Hosts | |
| Saint Theodore Tyro | Saint | March 09 | Soldiers; recruits; against fire | Flaming torch; sword; military attire |
| Saint Victor I | Saint | July 28 | papal tiara; palm of martyrdom | |
| Saint Zeno of Verona | Saint | April 12 | Verona, Italy; anglers; babies | Book; fish |
| Saint Zephyrinus | Saint | August 26 | papal tiara; palm of martyrdom |
More dynamic lists
Dioceses
| Diocese | Type | AdministrativeSubdivision |
|---|---|---|
| Archdiocese of Milan | Archdiocese | Lombardy |
| Diocese of Rome | Archdiocese | Lazio |
Religious orders
This will be where the results a Cargo Query of the Religious orders table.
Lay organizations
This will be where the results a Cargo Query of the Lay organizations table.
Challenges to Catholicism
The Church faces secularization, declining church attendance, and cultural shifts toward individualism.[27] Responses include renewed evangelization and youth engagement through figures like Blessed Carlo Acutis.
Social and political influence
The Church promotes Catholic Social Teaching through education, healthcare, and charity via Caritas Italy, retaining cultural influence despite limited political power.[28] It fosters social cohesion in Italy’s diverse society.
References
- ↑ "Italy: Country Summary". CIA World Factbook. 2023-12-01. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/italy/.
- ↑ "Catholic Dioceses in Italy". GCatholic.org. 2025-01-22. http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/country/IT.htm.
- ↑ "Italy: Geography". CIA World Factbook. 2023-12-01. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/italy/.
- ↑ New Advent (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia: Italy. Robert Appleton Company.
- ↑ "History of Italy". Wikipedia. 2024-11-15. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Italy.
- ↑ "Catholicism in Italy". Wikipedia. 2024-11-01. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_in_Italy.
- ↑ "Italy: People and Society". CIA World Factbook. 2023-12-01. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/italy/.
- ↑ "Catholic Dioceses in Italy". GCatholic.org. 2025-01-22. http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/country/IT.htm.
- ↑ "Religion in Italy". Pew Research Center. 2020-06-15. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2020/06/15/religion-in-italy/.
- ↑ "Catholic Dioceses in Italy". GCatholic.org. 2025-01-22. http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/country/IT.htm.
- ↑ "Catholic Dioceses in Italy". GCatholic.org. 2025-01-22. http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/country/IT.htm.
- ↑ "Catholicism in Italy". Wikipedia. 2024-11-01. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_in_Italy.
- ↑ "Vatican City". Vatican News. 2020-02-11. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-02/lateran-treaty-history.html.
- ↑ New Advent (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia: Italy. Robert Appleton Company.
- ↑ "Italy: People and Society". CIA World Factbook. 2023-12-01. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/italy/.
- ↑ "2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Italy". U.S. Department of State. 2022-06-02. https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/italy/.
- ↑ "History of Italy". Wikipedia. 2024-11-15. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Italy.
- ↑ "Italy: Country Summary". CIA World Factbook. 2023-12-01. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/italy/.
- ↑ "Catholic Traditions in Italy". Catholics & Cultures. 2022-08-01. https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/italy.
- ↑ "Caritas Italy: Our Work". Caritas. 2024-03-10. https://www.caritas.org/where-caritas-work/europe/italy/.
- ↑ "Religious Sites in Italy". Advantour. 2023-06-15. https://www.advantour.com/italy/religion.htm.
- ↑ "Catholic Pilgrimage Sites in Italy". Vatican News. 2020-10-15. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2020-10/italy-pilgrimages.html.
- ↑ "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Italy". U.S. Department of State. 2020-05-12. https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/italy/.
- ↑ "Acta Apostolicae Sedis: Saints of Italy". Vatican. 2023-02-10. https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/2023-02-10.pdf.
- ↑ "Acta Apostolicae Sedis: Saints of Italy". Vatican. 2023-02-10. https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/2023-02-10.pdf.
- ↑ "Carlo Acutis Beatification". Vatican News. 2020-10-10. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2020-10/carlo-acutis-beatification.html.
- ↑ "2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Italy". U.S. Department of State. 2022-06-02. https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/italy/.
- ↑ "Caritas Italy: Our Work". Caritas. 2024-03-10. https://www.caritas.org/where-caritas-work/europe/italy/.