Vatikan i kršćanska demokracija u Italiji
Vatican and Christian Democracy in Italy

Summary/Abstract: The paper deals with the evolution of the Catholic social and political movement and Christian democratic parties since the end of the 19th century. The origins of the Catholic political involvement lie in the need to counter the challenges of capitalism, socialism and liberal democracy. Its original platform was pope Leo XIIFs encyclical Rerum novarum. Christian democracy as a party option dates back to the emergence of the Popular party (Partito popolare), first under the leadership of Romulo Murri and after World War I by Luigi Sturzo, followed by the Christian democracy (Democrazia Christiana) of Alcide de Gasperi and his successors. The political party that brings together Italian Catholics was at first totally independent of Vatican. During Pio XIFs papacy after World War II it came under Vatican’s thumb. After John XXIII (1959—1963), the principle of the separation of the Church and politics, which was adhered to by all later popes, was stressed. The present day crisis of Christian democracy is the outcome of the falling away from Christian social principles in the conduct of politics.

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