Lateran Treaty Facts for Kids

The Lateran Treaty was an important agreement made in 1929 between Benito Mussolini, who was the leader of Italy at the time, and the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. This treaty officially created Vatican City as its own independent country. Before this, the Pope didn't have his own country, and there was a long-standing disagreement between the Italian government and the Catholic Church. Vatican City is now one of the smallest countries in the world.

What Was the Lateran Treaty?
- Why Was This Treaty Needed?
- What Did the Treaty Do?
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What Was the Lateran Treaty?

The Lateran Treaty was a special agreement signed on February 11, 1929. It was signed in the Lateran Palace in Rome, which is how it got its name. The main people involved were Benito Mussolini, representing the Kingdom of Italy, and Cardinal Pietro Gasparri, who signed on behalf of Pope Pius XI. This treaty solved a big problem that had existed for many years between Italy and the Catholic Church.

Why Was This Treaty Needed?

For almost 60 years before the treaty, there was a disagreement called the "Roman Question." This started in 1870 when the newly unified Kingdom of Italy took control of Rome. Before that, the Pope ruled a large area of central Italy called the Papal States. When Italy took Rome, the Pope lost his land and became a "prisoner in the Vatican." The Popes refused to recognize the Italian government and wouldn't leave the Vatican. This created a lot of tension. The Lateran Treaty finally brought an end to this long argument. It helped Italy and the Catholic Church to have a peaceful relationship.

What Did the Treaty Do?

The Lateran Treaty had three main parts. These parts helped to settle the "Roman Question" and define the relationship between Italy and the Holy See (the government of the Catholic Church).

Vatican City Becomes a Country

The most important part of the treaty was that it created Vatican City as an independent and sovereign state. This means Vatican City became its own country, with its own laws and government, completely separate from Italy. It is the smallest independent state in the world, both in area and population. The treaty also set the borders of this tiny new country.

The Catholic Church's Role

The treaty also recognized Catholicism as the official state religion of Italy. This meant the Catholic Church had a special place in Italian society. The Italian government also agreed to pay the Holy See a large sum of money. This money was to make up for the land and property the Church had lost when Italy unified in 1870. In return, the Holy See officially recognized the Kingdom of Italy and its capital, Rome.

Other Important Points

The treaty also included rules about marriage and education in Italy. It said that marriages performed by the Catholic Church would be recognized by the Italian government. It also made religious education compulsory in Italian schools. These points showed the strong influence the Catholic Church would have in Italy after the treaty.

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Francesco Pacelli was a key person in the Lateran Treaty talks.
This map shows the territory of Vatican City State, created by the Lateran Accords.
A 2013 map of Vatican City.