Dal popolarismo al clerico-fascismo: Cattolicesimo e nazione nell’itinerario di Filippo Crispolti (1919-1929)

This research analyses the issue of Clerico-Fascism, within the framework of Italian political life of the Twenties, with a particular focus on the figure of Filippo Crispolti. After the rise to power of Fascism, Crispolti and the Clerico-Fascists supported the new Regime, which they supposed would promote Catholic renewal in opposition to the secularisation of Italian society and of its liberal institutions. The Centro Nazionale Italiano (Cni), founded in 1924 by pro-Fascist Catholics, was the most representative form of Italian Clerico-Fascism. The Cni members, and Crispolti between them, guaranteed their complete political support of fascism. At the centre of their ideological project there was the indissoluble and god-given link between Catholicism and the Italian nation. Fascism, according to this view, would definitely have allowed the catholic faith to regain its position of importance which it was due to hold in the public sphere. The clerical and conservative background of Cni members, allowed them to converge with the moderate nationalism and the conservative sectors of fascism, as well as causing some friction with the squadrismo and the nationalists of lay origin. The Vatican cautiously approved of the foundation of the Cni, but began to view it with suspicion because of its exaggerated pro-Fascism and its independence from the Holy See. The mistrust increased in consequence of frictions with Italian Azione Cattolica and the condemnation of Action Française. Finally in 1928 Pope Pius XI condemned the Cni, causing the end of any Clerico-Fascist project; the agreement between the fascist regime and Catholic aspirations was to continue in the Lateran Pacts of 1929.