In the section on the question what is the religion in Italy nowadays? given by the author Separated the best answer is Religion of Italy
The predominant religion in Italy is Catholicism, practiced by approximately 92% of the population. The center of the Catholic world is the city-state of the Vatican (it houses the residence of Pope John Paul II), which is located within the Italian capital of Rome, on the Monte Vaticano hill. Vatican - residence of the head catholic church pope, international center Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican was established as an independent state in 1929 in accordance with the Lateran Agreements between the Italian government and the Pope.
Italy is a country in which the Catholic Church is unusually strong and this is not surprising: from 1929 to November 26, 1976, Catholicism was considered the state religion of Italy. In Italy, at present, the Church is officially separated from the state, and regulates its relations with the state through special agreements and laws, in particular the “New Concordat” of 1984. The Italian Constitution divides all religions into two categories: “Catholic”, with which the state concludes a Concordat, and non-Catholic religions. The motivation for expanded cooperation between the state and the Catholic Church in the article of the Concordat is formulated as follows: “The Italian Republic, recognizing the value of religious culture and taking into account that the principles of Catholicism are the historical heritage of the Italian people...” While the Italian Constitution establishes: citizens have equal rights without differences of religion, that all religious confessions are equally free before the law, it contains separate provisions regarding the Catholic Church and other churches: that the state and the Catholic Church are independent and sovereign in the sphere belonging to each of them, and their relations are “regulated by the Lateran Treaties " that non-Catholic denominations have the right to create their own organizations according to their statutes, since they do not contradict the Italian legal order, and their relations with the state are determined by law on the basis of agreements with the bodies representing these denominations. The vast majority of Italians go to church periodically, and on such holidays. Like Christmas and Easter, Catholic churches across the country are always full of people.

About sixty million people live in Italy, of which over 2.5 million live in Rome, which is also the largest city and capital of Italy. Naples and Milan are also million-plus cities - 1.1 and 1.4 million people, respectively. The population density can be characterized based on their ratio of approximately 200 people per square kilometer. More than 90% of the country's inhabitants are Italians, who are usually divided according to ethnic subgroups: Sardinians, Sicilians, Ligurians, Tuscans, etc. Quite a lot of people from neighboring Europe live in Italy: French, Greeks, Germans, Albanians. The majority of the population are urban residents.

Language

The national language is Italian, which was distinguished by three dialects - central, northern and southern. Modern Italian youth no longer use these dialects, mainly older people. In Italy, each province can have its own version of the dialect, for example, Sardinian or Catalan.

In the tourist areas of Italy, English is almost universally spoken. French languages, and the sellers of souvenir shops around the main attractions of Rome even understand a little Russian. In the northern part of the country and in the resorts of the Adriatic coast, German is spoken.

Religion

Rome, the cradle of Catholicism, determines the dominant religion in Italy - Catholicism, Judaism and Islam are rare. Currently, in Italy, the church is officially separated from the state, and relations between them are regulated by separate laws and agreements, for example the “New Concordat”, which has existed since 1984. The constitutional structure of the Italian state divides all religions into “Catholic” and “non-Catholic” , and establishes equality without distinction of religion. Non-Catholic denominations in Italy have the right to create their own organizations if they do not contradict the established legal order.

Within the boundaries of the Italian capital Rome, on the hill of Monte Vaticano, is the central link of the Catholic world - the Vatican, the residence of the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church. The conclave of cardinals, serving as advisors to the pope, elects the pope for life (currently the head of the Catholic Church is John Paul 2). The Vatican City State was founded in 1929 and is completely independent of Italy, although they have maintained friendly relations since ancient times. The Vatican has about 1,000 residents - prelates, or church officials. The area of ​​the Vatican is only forty-four hectares, most of the territory is occupied by the most valuable architectural treasures and masterpieces of world art - the Cathedral and St. Peter's Square, the Sistine Chapel, the famous Vatican Library and museums.

In Rome there is the Vatican - the residence of the Pope with the huge St. Peter's Basilica (54.3).

The land of Italy is rich in cultural monuments from different eras. "Museum under open air"is called Florence. Venice grew up on the islands of shallow water sea ​​bay in the Adriatic Sea. Instead of streets in this city there are canals (54.4).

The landscapes of Italy combine bright sun and thick shadows. Millions of tourists come to relax by the sea and in the mountains, to see Italian cities and museums.

Countries of the Balkan Peninsula. Greece occupies the south of the Balkan Peninsula, the island of Crete and many small islands. This is a country of mountains that stretch towards the sea, forming peninsulas and capes. The mountains are young, their growth is accompanied by frequent earthquakes. From the bottom Aegean Sea Islands rise - the remains of the Santorini volcano. Its eruption caused terrible damage 3.5 thousand years ago ancient civilization Europe on the island of Crete.

The land of Greece is not rich. Almost all of it is composed of limestone. Forests have survived only in the north of the country. Sheep and goats graze on the mountain slopes. There are no large rivers. Greece is one of the sunniest countries in Europe. Summer temperatures usually exceed 30°. Wheat crops, orchards, tobacco plantations, and vineyards often suffer from drought.

Greece has developed both industry and agriculture. For thousands of years, the Greeks have traded leather, olives and raisins, olive oil and wine. The Greek navy is one of the largest in Europe. An important source of income is tourism. The capital of the country is Athens.

The Acropolis, the remains of an ancient fortress with temples of the Olympian gods, rises above the city. The main one is the Parthenon. Greece is the birthplace of the Olympic Games.

In the north of Greece, ancient Christian churches and monasteries have been preserved, including on the famous Mount Athos. Greece is the birthplace of Orthodoxy, from this country the Christian religion came to Rus'.

Balkan countries. In the west of the Balkan Peninsula, the Dinaric Mountains, composed of limestone, stretch from north to south. The countries of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia are located in the mountains. In the north of Serbia there are significant plains through which the Danube flows. Among the mountains lie large and beautiful lakes. Some countries access the Adriatic Sea. Numerous islands stretch along its coast. In some places, streams of fresh water from karst springs shoot into the sea underwater. In Slovenia, where the name “karst” comes from, and other countries there are many deep and large caves.

The Balkan countries, inhabited mainly by the South Slavs, emerged as independent states in the 90s of the 20th century. Catholics predominate in Slovenia and Croatia, and Orthodox Christians predominate in Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia. There are many Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Conflicts between peoples with different religions and levels of development have more than once led to clashes. Albania is a Muslim country. It is the poorest agricultural country in Europe.

What seas and oceans is South-West Asia washed by? What world religions do you know? Where and when did Islam originate? What is Jerusalem famous for?

Southwest Asia is a mosaic of countries, peoples and religions. There are more Muslim countries here: eleven Arab countries, as well as Türkiye, Iran, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan. Christians live in Georgia, Armenia, and predominate in Cyprus. The ancient Jewish religion is widespread in Israel.

Georgia and Azerbaijan in the Caucasus share a border with Russia. These Transcaucasian countries, together with Armenia, are members of the CIS, and in the past were republics of the USSR. The countries have a rich culture; ancient monasteries and fortresses have been preserved in them. The population of the valleys has long grown grain crops, grapes, fruits, and in Azerbaijan, cotton. Residents of mountainous areas are engaged in sheep breeding. There are numerous resorts on the Black Sea coast of Georgia. The capital of Georgia is Tbilisi, a picturesque city in the valley of the Kura River and on the neighboring mountain slopes.

Near the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, on the coast of the Caspian Sea, there are deposits of high-quality oil.

The predominant religion in Italy is Catholicism.

More than 95% of Italians are Catholics.

The center of the Catholic world is the city-state of the Vatican (it houses the residence of Pope John Paul II), which is located within the Italian capital of Rome, on the hill of Monte Vaticano. The Vatican is the residence of the head of the Catholic Church, the Pope, the international center of the Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican was established as an independent state in 1929 in accordance with the Lateran Agreements between the Italian government and the Pope.

Italy is a country in which the Catholic Church is unusually strong and this is not surprising: from 1929 (when Italy recognized the State of the Vatican (St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Gardens and a number of buildings in Rome and its environs) under the supreme sovereignty of the Pope), until November 26 In 1976, Catholicism was considered the state religion of Italy.

In Italy, at present, the Church is officially separated from the state, and regulates its relations with the state through special agreements and laws, in particular the “New Concordat” of 1984. However, the Italian Constitution defines the country's main religion: “The State and the Catholic Church are independent and sovereign in their respective spheres” (Article 7). That is, the Italian Constitution divides all religions into two categories: “Catholic” (Article 7), with which the state concludes a Concordat, and non-Catholic religions (Article 8). The motivation for expanded cooperation between the state and the Catholic Church in Article 9 of the Concordat is formulated as follows: “The Italian Republic, recognizing the value of religious culture and taking into account that the principles of Catholicism are the historical heritage of the Italian people...”. While the Italian Constitution establishes that citizens have equal rights without distinction of religion (Article 3), that all religious confessions are equally free before the law (Part 1 of Article 8), it contains separate provisions regarding the Catholic Church and other churches: that the State and the Catholic Church are independent and sovereign in the sphere belonging to each of them, and their relations are “regulated by the Lateran Treaties” (Article 7), that non-Catholic denominations have the right to create their own organizations according to their statutes, since they do not contradict the Italian legal order, but their relations with the state are determined by law on the basis of agreements with bodies representing these religions (parts 2, 3 of article 8 of the Italian Constitution).

The vast majority of Italians go to church periodically, and on holidays such as Christmas and Easter, Catholic churches throughout the country are always full of people.

There is an opinion among foreigners that all Italians are very religious and regularly attend every Sunday church service- Mass - with all his large family. According to the results of a survey of 21 thousand Europeans conducted by the German foundation Bertelsmann Stiftung, Italians are considered by their neighbors to be the most religious nation of the Old Continent. But is this really so?

Is Italy, a country in whose heart is the Catholic stronghold of the Vatican, really populated entirely by mystics, monks, hermits and extremely God-fearing people, as most other Europeans like to believe?

Eighty-five Italians surveyed by Bertelsmann Stiftung believe in God, 67 percent of Bel Paese residents are convinced of the existence of an afterlife, 55 percent attend mass according to at least one Sunday a month, and 47 percent trust in the Lord at least once a day. Apart from Italy, such a religious impulse is characteristic only of Poland, Spain and the United States: in France and Great Britain, neighboring Italy, barely 60-70 percent of the population consider themselves believers.

An interesting fact is that the south of Italy is much more religious than the north of the country. Apparently, residents of the more industrialized regions of the country have no time to attend church and bang their foreheads on the porch. Or here is an example of the northern region of Friuli, where the number of atheists exceeds the number of believers. It is quite possible that this is caused by the influx of immigrants who have chosen the richer north of the country.

Well, okay, it’s hard to argue with statistics: let’s say Italians are the most religious European nation. But does this belief keep them from evading taxes? Or from bribery? Or the coverage of the mafia by government officials of the very best high level? Maybe it would be easier if the “God-fearing” Italians openly admitted themselves to be atheists, or do they have it all figured out at the very top?! Although, I always forget that the Vatican is just a stone's throw from the Roman parliament!

But, whatever one may say, religion is deeply ingrained in the DNA of Italians. Even in Italian There are a lot of proverbs, sayings and phraseological units associated specifically with religion and faith. Here, for example, these: the loser and the unfortunate are called “poor Christ” (“povero Cristo”), some rare and almost impossible event occurs, “like the Pope dying” (“ogni morte di Papa”), and the name “ Christian" ("un cristiano") may well replace in colloquial speech the word "person".

But here’s how the Italians deal with religion, or rather, they play with this concept: to literally treat something “con religione” (“with religion”) means to be attentive and respectful, to treat it as if it were a shrine. And “to be without religion” (“essere senza religione”) here means to be dishonest, immoral, corrupt: after all, apparently, according to the Italians, this is how unbelievers and infidels behave. And the exclamation “No more religion (faith)!” (“Non c”è più religione!”) expresses – often in a humorous form – the indignation and stupor caused by someone’s behavior that contradicts the usual moral principles.

And you don’t have to look far for other examples: when an Italian goes to see his country, what sights will he never miss? No, I don’t mean pizzerias or even beaches, no matter how famous, titled and picturesque they may be: the average Italian will certainly consider it his duty to visit local churches. However, this is not at all surprising: it is in the hands of the Catholic Church that most of the country’s historical and cultural heritage is located.

And if a foreigner - not a Catholic or an atheist - wants to become an expert in Italian art, then first he needs to thoroughly study the Old and New Testaments, since just “acquaintance” with the Madonna will clearly not be enough here. Otherwise, he will simply get lost in the crowd of saints and saints on the frescoes Catholic cathedrals Italy. It's no joke, most Italians are familiar with all of them from childhood, since they probably received a Catholic upbringing and attended catechism courses for years.

But, apparently, Catholic science is of no use to Italians: years of catechism do not prevent the majority from deceiving their souls, deceiving their neighbors, stealing from the state, blaspheming, evading taxes and committing other things displeasing to God. And in sexual terms, Italians are still hypocrites: despite all the admonitions of a whole galaxy of popes, local residents continue to live in sin until marriage (sometimes not only for years, but also for decades, having more than one child), use condoms, have abortions, cheat on their spouses, get married only because the church ceremony is “more picturesque,” ​​and then get divorced and have the agreements annulled. temple of God marriages.

And although the majority of Italians get married in church (six out of ten couples say the sacramental “I do” in front of the altar, and not in the city hall) and eight out of ten children are born in a legal marriage, the residents of Bel Paese, who consider themselves Catholics, attend church mass, rather in obedience traditions and habit, or even out of inertia than at the call of the soul.

And it’s not for nothing that there is a proverb in Italy: “A believing Italian is ceremonial, a German is serious, an Englishman is faithful, a Frenchman is ardent, a Spaniard is superstitious” (“L"italiano è cerimonioso nella religione, il tedesco serio, l"inglese devoto, il francese zelante , lo spagnolo superstizioso"). After all, it turns out that the inhabitants of Bel Paese, so greedy for everything beautiful, believe in a picturesque ritual rather than in the salvation of their immortal soul.