Content analysis of official Roman catholic church criticism towards Italian Fascism and German National Socialism in Pius XI’s encyclics

Abstract

The present article analyses Pope Pius XI’s encyclics against Italian Fascism and German National Socialism, as well as encyclics on social issues in general that touch upon the said ideologies. Among them are, respectively, Non abbiamo bisogno and Mit brennender Sorge, and Quadragesimo anno and Divini illius Magistri. Analysing their contents reveals two major avenues of criticism levelled against Italian Fascism: one, that a state cannot supersede the family in matters of the raising of children and position itself as the source of morals and an object of unconditional obedience; and two, that a state constantly projecting its authority into the private life of an individual runs contrary to freedom of association and freedom of contract inherent to it. With regards to German National Socialism, this is complemented by a third avenue expounding on the unacceptability of racism.

Keywords

• pope pius xi
• social teaching of the catholic church
• fascism
• national socialism
• totalitarianism
• family