Some Features of the Slovenian College's Beginnings in Rome – Echoes Among the Slovenian Emigrants Around the World

Abstract

Members of the Catholic Church in Slovenia, as many other Catholic nations, wanted to have their own college in the centre of Christianity, which could offer hospitality to Slovenian pilgrims in the Eternal City and a place to stay for Slovenian students during their specialization while also providing possibilities for preserving Slovenian religious and cultural heritage outside Slovenian homeland. Slovenian College in Rome was officially founded in 1960, but it was only inaugurated in 1973. It was listed among the Pontifical colleges that same year. The foundation was financially supported above all by the Slovenian political emigrants from the United States of America and Canada, but they had doubts about the college's character, its leadership, and its independence from the communist authorities in Slovenia.

Keywords

• catholic church
• slovenia
• college slovenicum
• popedom
• rome
• emigrants