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Rome's Ceremony Marking End of Papal States Shows Current Church-State Divide

By Howard M. Friedman

Today's National Catholic Reporter carries an interesting account of Saturday's commemoration in Rome of the 138th anniversary of Italy's capture of the Papal States from the Pope. The ceremony featured Rome's vice Mayor and a general from the Sardinian Grenadiers. On Sept. 20, 1870, the Republican armies of Italy's King Victor Emmanuel II breached Port Pia, one of the gates of Rome, quickly captured the states and unified them under Italy's civil government. This year's annual ceremony, organized by the city of Rome, and not the Vatican, was controversial because the names of the 10 Papal troops killed in the battle were read, but not the names of the 49 Republican soldiers who were also casualties. This led to protests from leftists Italians who support strong separation of church and state. Later in the day they organized their own commemoration at which the names of the Republican troops killed were read. This controversy is seen as symbolizing current splits in Italy over the role of the Church in political affairs.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on September 22, 2008 (boomark / email).