Vatican during the Savoyard era (1870–1929)

G.P.A.Healy, Portrait of Pope Pius IX (1871)

Vatican during the Savoyard era (1870–1929) refers to a pivotal period in the history of the Vatican, marked by its complex relationship with the newly unified Italy under the House of Savoy. This era began with the capture of Rome by Italian troops in 1870, an event that effectively ended the Papal States and significantly altered the Pope's temporal power. The period concluded with the signing of the Lateran Treaty in 1929, which resolved the "Roman Question" by establishing Vatican City as an independent sovereign entity.

Background

The unification of Italy, or the Risorgimento, was a lengthy process that aimed to consolidate the various states of the Italian peninsula into a single nation-state under the leadership of the Kingdom of Sardinia, ruled by the House of Savoy. The Papal States, which had existed for over a millennium, stood as a significant obstacle to this unification. The capture of Rome on September 20, 1870, marked the final act of Italian unification but also initiated a period of strained relations between the Italian state and the Papacy.

Pope Pius IX and the Loss of the Papal States

Pope Pius IX, who reigned from 1846 to 1878, vehemently opposed the unification efforts and the annexation of the Papal States. Following the loss of his temporal territories, Pius IX declared himself a "prisoner of the Vatican," refusing to recognize the legitimacy of the Kingdom of Italy. This stance was maintained in the famous "Non Expedit" decree, which discouraged Catholics from participating in Italian political life.

The Roman Question

The period from 1870 to 1929 is often referred to as the era of the "Roman Question" – a political and diplomatic impasse between the Italian government and the Holy See regarding the status of the Pope and the ownership of Rome. During this time, the Popes refused to leave the Vatican, and no formal diplomatic relations existed between Italy and the Holy See.

Pope Leo XIII to Pius XI

Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903) attempted to improve relations with the Italian state through a more conciliatory approach, without renouncing the claims to the Papal States. His encyclicals and diplomatic efforts aimed at finding a compromise, but substantial progress was not achieved until the reign of Pope Pius XI (1922-1939).

The Lateran Treaty of 1929

The resolution of the Roman Question came with the Lateran Treaty of 1929, signed by representatives of Pope Pius XI and Benito Mussolini, the Prime Minister of Italy. The treaty recognized the sovereignty of the Vatican City within Rome, provided financial compensation to the Holy See for the loss of the Papal States, and established Roman Catholicism as the state religion of Italy. This agreement marked the end of the Savoyard era for the Vatican and the beginning of a new phase in its history as an independent sovereign state.

Impact and Legacy

The Vatican during the Savoyard era (1870–1929) underwent significant changes that shaped its modern identity. The loss of the Papal States and the subsequent establishment of Vatican City as a sovereign entity redefined the role of the Papacy in world affairs, transitioning from a temporal power to a primarily spiritual authority. The period also set the stage for the complex relationship between the Vatican and the Italian state, influencing the political and religious landscape of Italy and the Catholic Church's position in the global community.