La Santa Sede di fronte ai sistemi totalitari del XX Secolo

Nuovi sguardi e prospettive di ricerca

The Institute of National Remembrance – Commission for the Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation, the Pontifical Gregorian University, and the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences are organizing the international scientific conference titled: "The Holy See and Totalitarian Systems in the 20th Century: New Perspectives and Research Approaches", which will take place in Rome on October 28–29, 2026.

The 20th century was undoubtedly the stage for the rise, development, and consolidation of totalitarian systems and dictatorships. In various regions of the world, power was seized by individuals or groups who, driven by repressive ideologies, led to the subjugation of their own citizens and, through wars and annexations, violated the independence and territorial integrity of other states. Certain nations, such as Poland and several countries in Central and Eastern Europe, endured the tragic experience of successive totalitarian regimes over time.

In the face of such a pervasive presence of totalitarian states, fundamental questions arise: What stance did the Holy See adopt toward these regimes? Did it possess reliable and comprehensive information regarding their actions? Through its extensive diplomatic and ecclesiastical network, was the Vatican able to reach places where the gravest human tragedies were unfolding to offer concrete assistance? And to what extent did Vatican diplomacy and policy influence the global balance of power during the 20th century?

The need to revisit a critical reflection on the role and actions of the Church in the face of totalitarianism stems not only from the ongoing opening of the Vatican archives, but also from the continuous methodological renewal within contemporary historiography. These new research perspectives make it possible today to reexamine, in a fresh and more nuanced light, the presence of the Church in individual countries and its complex relationships with various totalitarian systems.