Conflict between Vatican and fascism in 1931, as the Croatian press saw it/ Sukob vatikana i fasizma 1931. Prikazan u hrvatskom tisku

In 1929 Vatican signed Lateran treaties with the Italian government among which was Concordat, too. This pact guaranteed freedom of Catholic Church, as an apolitical or-ganization under the supreme authority of the Holy See. In spite of this, in 1931 Italian fascists started to hound Catholic youth organizations within Italian Catholic Action. Du-ring these persecutions fascists did many violent and outrageous actions against members of these organizations. Moreover, fascistic press, under protection of Mussolini, organized a campaign against these organizations. Therefore, fascists blamed Catholic Action that supports antifascistpolitics of Italian Folks Party (Partito Popolare Italiano), whose work was at the time forbidden. Although there was no proof for such accusations at the end of May and beginning of June fascists started to publicly disgrace members of these organizations and to attack them. Moreover, they demolished some of the buildings and offices of these Catholic organizations, destroying the documentation, as well as they often inter-rupted religious services and festivities. Consequently, by the beginning of June Italian government proscribed activities of all Catholic youth organizations. On the other hand, the Holy See protested against such violence, and at the beginning of July 1931 pope issued encyclic Non abiamo bisogno. In this document pope had adjudged vexation of Catholic organizations, as well as he defended Catholic Action as non political organization that had no connections with Italian Popular Party. Similarly, pope maintained that Catholic Action did not depraved fascist's government. Moreover, pope disagreed with the government's statements about the education of youth since fascists claimed that only state has right to educate youngsters. During this period of accusations and harassment (May-August 1931) relations between Holy See and Italian government were quite tensed and there existed possibility that both sides cancel signed Lateran treaties. However, in August 1931 tensions calmed down and at the beginning of September a new treaty was signed, according to which both sides agreed that Catholic Action had to have strictly religious character and at the head of the organizations could be only bishops. Thus, fascist achieved their goal--Catholic organizations were driven away from the field of education. However, this treaty did not ensure them control over the entire Italian youth. KEY WORDS: Concordat, encyclic, fasc