Most believing Italians profess the Catholic faith. Officially, 99.6% are considered Catholics, that is, practically all of Italy. Religion does not particularly occupy modern Italian citizens: according to statistics, about 15% of the population visits temples.
Country of many religions
Protestants (about three hundred thousand people from Piedmont) and Judaists (thirty-five thousand “scattered” throughout the country are citizens of Rome, Turin, Genoa, Florence, Venice and Livorno) also live in Italy.
Despite the fact that the Catholic Church is officially separated from the country, it has a much greater influence on the minds of Italians than the state of Italy. Religion still affects many areas of Italians ’life - it’s not for nothing that the independent Vatican City is located here, headed by the pope, the ruler of all the world's Catholic churches.
The international role and authority of the Vatican is as strong as it was several centuries ago. Owning a powerful radio station and the Osservatore Romano newspaper, Papa successfully leads religious, semi-religious, and secular organizations, communities, and unions.
The question “What religion is in Italy today?” Would perplex any citizen of the country, regardless of social status and education. In this country there are about 850 species of spiritual and other institutions subordinate to the Catholic Church.
"Catholic action"
The liaison and curator is an organization called "Catholic Action." The task of the agents of "Catholic Action" is to instruct parents on how to raise their children, follow the literary preferences of Italians and recommend Catholic media and video materials that the church welcomes. One of the responsibilities of the agents of the "Catholic Action" is to obstruct those citizens who intend to join the non-Catholic union or decide to take part in a strike.
Religion in Italy now largely depends on the spiritual enlightenment of the Italians themselves. Catholic priests play a special role in religious education, most of which are part-time teachers in secondary schools. The influence of the clergy on village children is especially great.
But not only "Catholic action" is famous for Italy. Religion is certainly important, but the influence of worldly life on the Vatican’s political position cannot be left unnoticed. Pope John XXIII, for example, became famous as the first Catholic patriarch in history to proclaim the struggle for peace as the church’s highest goal.
I must say that the
inhabitants of Italian villages are much more devout than the townspeople. Each village has its own patron saint, able to remove troubles of a certain kind from people. St. Paul, for example, neutralizes the bites of poisonous snakes, and St. Lucia treats eye diseases.
St. Barbara gives protection from a thunderstorm, and more recently, even patronizes the gunners. Archangel Gabriel (the one who brought the good news to the Virgin) received the status of the patron saint of radio stations ...
Heavenly Patrons
Belief in the heavenly patrons has given rise to a new custom - to bring to the church "gifts by vow" (ex-voto). These small, self-made paintings are a kind of expression of gratitude to the saint for the help provided. Most often they draw “miracles” that have already happened or are about to happen due to the wonderful intervention of the patron. Sometimes the role of the paintings is played by wax images of the healed parts of the body.
Peasant custom is also interesting to depict religious symbols on tools and household items. Crosses, faces of saints and other attributes can be seen on a crib and pottery, on a weaving shuttle and a collar of a pet ...
"Islam flourishes in Italy ..."
Islam and Italy?
Religion professed by the Arab peoples has really taken root here. In any case, Alessandra Karajula, an Italian sociologist, does not doubt it. This report is dedicated to her report, "Capital Islam."
According to Alessandra's estimates, more than one and a half million Muslims live in Italy (in Rome and the Roman region, for example, there are about 100 thousand people who profess Islam) who have come here from all over the world. The female scientist also reported that only 16% of Italian Muslims were seen at divine services in official mosques. But the traditional Friday prayer (Muslim religious rite) brings together 40% of Muslims living in Rome and the region.
Oddly enough, the mention of Islamism sounds, but according to historical information, Sicily and the south of Italy are directly related to Islam. The Muslim religion, brought here in the 9th century by the Arab conquerors, is returning again.
The modern Italian state divides all believers into Catholics and not Catholics. The second group includes Protestants, Jews and Muslims. Representatives of these religious communities have the same rights as Italians professing the Catholic faith.