COUNTRY
ItalyPOPULATION
61,261,254 (July 2012 est.)GDP PER CAPITA
$30,900 (2011 est.)RELIGIONS
Christian 80% (overwhelming Roman Catholic with very small groups of Jehova Witnesses and Protestants), Muslims NEGL (about 700,000 but growing), Atheists and Agnostics 20%AT THE CENTER
RELATED RESOURCES
ORGANIZATIONS (3)
Community of Sant'Egidio
The Italian Buddhist Union (Unione Buddhista Italiana)
Union of Islamic Communities and Organizations in Italy
The Italian Buddhist Union (Unione Buddhista Italiana)
Union of Islamic Communities and Organizations in Italy
PEOPLE (6)
QUOTES (7)
Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni on a Mosque Ban
December 4, 2008
Silvio Berlusconi on the Superiority of Western Civilization at a Press Conference
September 26, 2001
Article 19: Freedom of Religion
December 4, 2008
Silvio Berlusconi on the Superiority of Western Civilization at a Press Conference
September 26, 2001
Article 19: Freedom of Religion
PUBLICATIONS (3)
Italy
Events (14)
Italy is a secular republic with a national identity rooted firmly in Roman Catholicism. Throughout its history, the Catholic Church has been based in Rome, with most popes being Italian, and has played a primary role in shaping Italian social and political developments over the last 1,600 years. The unification and independence of Italy was achieved over the second half of the 19th century against the wishes of the Vatican. Catholicism was disestablished as the state religion in 1984 but remains a hallmark of Italian society, and the Church is influential in most political parties. While the constitution guarantees religious freedom, the Church receives nearly all the taxes collected under a law in which taxpayers choose what organization will receive 0.8% of their annual income. However, Italian society and government do not always abide by Catholic teachings: divorce and abortion have been legalized in recent decades.
The Fourth Summit of Religious Leaders on the Occasion of the G8 brought together over 100 religious leaders to dialogue and draft a statement presenting an ethical and spiritual perspective on the upcoming G8 agenda. The event began with a visit to earthquake-stricken L'Aquila, where delegates were reminded that our common humanity means suffering anywhere is a problem everywhere; in a welcome ceremony they also dedicated a plaque as part of the effort to rebuild L'Aquila's cathedral. The...
This summit centered on the theme "Love of God, Love of Neighbor" and marked the third major gathering to result from the publication of A Common Word Between Us and You. It was also the first event to be sponsored by the Catholic-Muslim Forum of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. Sessions focused on "Theological and Spiritual Foundations" and "Human Dignity and Mutual Respect" in each faith. Each religious tradition was represented by 24 scholars and religious...
This International Ecumenical Symposium explored how commemoration of saints and martyrs can serve as a locus for ecumenical cooperation using the theme "A Cloud of Witnesses." Such witnesses to the faith often inspire Christians beyond sectarian boundaries and promote mutual understanding and reconciliation. The symposium included regional case studies and presentations on commemoration within different Christian traditions; in addition, participants observed the Feast of All Saints on...
The Berkley Center hosted a dialogue with youth leaders from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia, who were visiting the U.S. through a State Department-sponsored program that seeks to strengthen the role that clerics, educators, and community leaders – influential forces among youth groups – play in creating religious tolerance and understanding. The International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) hosts the program, "Faith and Community: A Dialogue," to provide opportunities for...
Cosponsored by Fondazione Opera Campana dei Caduti (The Campana Foundation) of Rovereto, Italy, and the European Council of Religious Leaders (ECRL), part of Religions for Peace in Europe, the European Inter-Religious Encounter 2008 convened over 250 religious leaders, politicians, and grassroots activists for a four-day forum addressing interreligious life in Europe under the theme "Shared Values for a Changing Europe." Participants addressed economic disparity, community cohesion, and...
The seventh Building Bridges Seminar was held in May 2008 at Villa Palazzola, a Cistercian monastery near Rome. The proceedings were all held in private. The lectures and small group sessions focused on how revelation is understood and interpreted in the two traditions, addressing the themes of "particularity, universality and finality in revelation," "translating the word" and "methods and authority in interpretation." Much discussion stemmed from the study of relevant scriptural passages...
At the 2007 International Encounter for Peace in Naples, Italy, the Community of Sant'Egidio augmented its respected annual "Prayer for Peace" gathering with sessions on interreligious dialogue and cultural exchange oriented around the theme "For a World without Violence: Religions and Cultures in Dialogue." Pope Benedict XVI opened the event by welcoming the participants and presiding over a Eucharistic celebration, breaking the papal tradition of only sending a written message to the annual...
Sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and the Office on Interreligious Relations and Dialogue of the World Council of Churches as part of the "Interreligious reflection on conversion: from controversy to a shared code of conduct," the conference on "Conversion: Assessing the Reality" brought together representatives of Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish, and Yoruba religious traditions to discuss the theological, historical, and contemporary aspects of...
The 2004 International Prayer for Peace took place in Milan, Italy, and marked the eighteenth year of the event organized by the Catholic lay organization Community of Sant'Egidio. The theme of the Milan meeting was "Religions and Cultures: The Courage to Forge a New Spiritual Humanism." Religious leaders from an array of different faith traditions spoke on current topics such as Islam in Europe, globalization and inequality, and immigration. The overarching subject of the majority of panels...
In July 2004, the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, in partnership with the World Bank, sponsored an international seminar on finance and development with a particular focus on the role of finance in meeting the challenges set down by the Millennium Development Goals. The conference brought together faith leaders, ministers, NGOs, and various other development interest groups to discuss best practices for developmental finance with hopes that the various groups could learn from both...
The 2002 International Prayer for Peace gathered in Palermo, Sicily, in the south of Italy on the sixteenth year of the annual event organized by the Catholic lay organization Community of Sant'Egidio. The theme of the Palermo meeting was "Faiths and Cultures within Conflict and Dialogue." Leaders from numerous faith traditions spoke on the importance of international cooperation between the West and Latin America, Europe and Africa. Participants also discussed topics such as immigration and...
Hosted by Pope John Paul II, the Day of Prayer for Peace in the World united Catholics with other Christians and world religious leaders to illustrate a common religious commitment to peace and justice. Representatives of various traditions offered their testimonies of peace and shared a meal; attendees also participated in prayer sessions organized by religion. The Day of Prayer for Peace closed with the ceremonial lighting of a lamp of peace, with religious leaders from each tradition...
The 1999 International Prayer for Peace was held in Genoa, Italy, with the theme of "Churches as Sisters, People as Brothers." This theme of unity and brotherhood was intended to unite the world together in a rejection of violence and division. The "Appeal for Peace" brought together the participants in calling for Christian unity across denominational divides. Among the highlights of the gathering was the written address from Pope John Paul II that was read to those in attendance. The Genoa...
In October 1986, Pope John Paul II held the "World Day of Prayer for Peace of Assisi", the first time such an event had ever occurred. Major religious leaders, such as the Dalai Lama and the Archbishop of Canterbury joined with the Pope to call for peace, unity and interreligious understanding. The Pope closed the meeting with the call, "Let's keep spreading the message of Peace and living the spirit of Assisi". Since Assisi, the community of Sant'Egidio has sought to fulfill that message by...