As we know in our timeline, the Italian peninsula was unified by and under the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont, with the help of the French, in 1861. Although the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed by then, the Papal States survived until 1871, controlling Rome and some surrounding cities, with the protection of French troops. But this would change with the Franco-Prussian War, as France would pull their soldiers out of Rome and re-direct them to fight Prussia, leaving the Papal States and Rome to fall to the new Kingdom of Italy. This unification movement was called the “Risorgimento”. The Pope did not recognize the fall of his Papal State and remained confined to Vatican City we know it today, and declared himself a “Prisoner of the Vatican”. The Pope, who refused to recognize its state’s fall, and the Kingdom of Italy would continue this so-called standoff until 1929, as the Lateran Treaty would establish the new Papal State in the Vatican City, and the Pope would recognize his losses.
Now, we go back to around 1850. Pope Pius IX would definitely not be able to unify Italy himself, having Sardinia-Piedmont as his enemy in Italian unification. He himself didn’t want his state to be ruled by a constitution, but for this unification to work, and the people of Italy to support him, he would have to agree. In this alternate scenario, he might embrace Italian nationalism the same way the people of Italy did, and would need to see the unification of Italy as a way to strengthen the power of the Catholic Church and to preserve its political power. The Pope would also frame Catholicism as the binding identity of a unified Italy, similar to how Orthodox Christianity was for Russia. The Pope would require foreign backing, militarily and politically. As we know, France supported Sardinia-Piedmont.
But, in this alternate scenario, we could say that the Pope might call for a “Catholic Legion”, drawing volunteer forces from all around Catholic Europe, such as Austria, Bavaria, and maybe even redirecting French support from Sardinia-Piedmont to the Papal State, as they might be condemned if they were not to support the Pope. This whole preparation process would have Pope Pius IX and his Papal State ready for the unification.
Portrait of Pope Pius IX, by George Peter Alexander Healy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Pope declares, “Italy must be united, under God, and the successor of St. Peter!” In this alternate scenario, Italian nationalism could take a Catholic character. This would bring revolutions from Naples, Sicily, Tuscany, Lombardy, Venice, and many more cities, siding with the Pope and his unification process. The time comes to neutralize Sardinia-Piedmont. With their French backing lost, they would ultimately give in, or if not, would be dragged into war, which they would lose. At the end, we would have a unified Italy under the Papacy.
Pope Pius IX would refuse to take a King’s title, since a king’s sovereignty is either territorial, dynastic, or exercised through coercive state power such as armies, taxes, and courts. Compared to a Pope’s sovereignty, which is spiritual and universal, derived from apostolic succession, and exercised for the salvation of souls, which isn’t political. These make the Pope unable to become “King of Italy”, since his sovereignty would be tied to a nation rather than his church, and a temporal kingdom rather than a spiritual mission as he is. This would also undermine the Pope’s theological role as father of all Catholics, making him just of Italians. The most likely outcome would be an Italian Confederation, with the Pope as the President, comparable to the Holy Roman Empire, Switzerland, or the Vatican as we know it today. Another King would be selected by the Pope, a Catholic king such as one from the House of Habsburg, the most possible candidate being Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, who in our timeline was the King of Mexico. The Habsburg Dynasty is Ultra-Catholic, and he is known to be intelligent, artistic, and diplomatic, making him a perfect example for a king from the Habsburgs. This Austrian king on Italy’s throne would also make the new Italy a perfect ally for the Austrian Empire.
“Episodio delle cinque giornate” by Baldassare Verazzi, Museo del Risorgimento, Milan – Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Now, looking at what our new Italian Confederation would be like. In this scenario, Church doctrine might heavily influence laws and governance, making it more like Spain and Austria. Such as slow industrialization, strict censorship of political oppositions, very limited if any secular education, and strong support for landowners and the rural peasantry. Italy’s relations with Europe would be different. Austria would be the main ally, as the new King of Italy is from the Habsburg Dynasty, which also rules over Austria. France would be a close ally as they supported their unification cause and are also Catholic dominant. Germany, if united, would view Italy as an unreliable military ally, but an important political one. Our Papal Italy’s colonial ambitions would be close to none, as the Pope would denounce military aggression for conquest, and the church would prefer peaceful conversion to Catholicism instead of domination. The Vatican in our timeline strictly condemned the slave trade and abusive colonial practices, so Italy wouldn’t participate in the Scramble for Africa and other colonial efforts.
Now, coming to the World Wars and other conflicts. Most likely, our Catholic Italian Confederation would stay neutral in World War I, as they opposed military aggression. Fascism and Ultra-Nationalism in Italy would not have risen, and Mussolini would never have gained power. In our timeline, many citizens supportive of the Church might accept Papal rule, though not all would necessarily agree. The Lateran Treaty would never have happened, as there is no opposing Italian government to rival the Papacy, and the Papacy already rules Italy. In the Second World War, Italy would also most probably stay neutral while denouncing Nazi German ideology. Italy might support France in the war, but might also see the loss of its people in such a war as unnecessary. In the Cold War, Italy would be strongly anti-Communist, as it saw what the Communist government did to the Russian Orthodox Church. And finally, coming into our timeline, the Papacy still holds on to Italy, the country is more rural, less industrial, and wealthier in the north. Tourism, the arts, and Catholic pilgrimage would have become even more important economic drivers of Italy.
Thanks for reading…