Lateran Treaty (1929)

About

The Lateran Treaty, signed on February 11, 1929, between Italy and the Holy See, marked a pivotal moment in modern history by establishing Vatican City as an independent sovereign state. This treaty resolved the long-standing "Roman Question," a conflict that began when Italy annexed Rome in 1870, ending the pope's temporal authority. The treaty consisted of three main components: the Treaty of Conciliation, which established Vatican City; the Financial Convention, which provided compensation for the loss of the Papal States; and the Concordat, which defined relations between the Catholic Church and the Italian state. The treaty confirmed Catholicism as Italy's state religion at the time and ensured the pope's neutrality in international affairs. It also recognized the sovereignty of the Holy See over Vatican City and provided for the Church's influence in Italian society, including religious education and marriage laws. The treaty was ratified on June 7, 1929, and remained in effect until a new concordat in 1985 altered some provisions, notably ending Catholicism's status as the state religion. The treaty's legacy includes its role in shaping Vatican City's independence and its influence on Church-State relations in Italy.