Status
In progress
Start date
01/01/2024
Michelangelo DeDona
Subject
The proposed research project, with a historical and legal perspective, aims to reconstruct and deepen the diplomatic relations between the Republic of San Marino and the Holy See, formalized in 1926.
There is no state religion, but Catholicism (91,5% of the population) is the main religion. The Republic of San Marino does not have a real Constitution, the most important act is law no. 59/1974 and subsequent amendments, from which a clear ideological and legal separation between the two systems emerges. Also worth mentioning are a series of bilateral agreements, among others the one on the civil recognition of religious holidays (1989), the Concordat of 1992 and the agreement on the teaching of the Catholic religion in public schools (2018).
Another debated topic, with repeated interventions by the diocesan Bishop, was the decriminalization of abortion which, after the 2021 referendum, led to the approval of law no. 21/2022.
The excellent relations between the small state of Titan and the Holy See also see particular attention to international issues, in addition to the conflict in Ukraine, migration and the strengthening of multilateral diplomacy.
Learning outcomes
Investigations In:
- Archive of the Secretariat of State
- Archives of L'Osservatore Romano and Vatican Radio
- MAECI Diplomatic Historical Archive
- Nunciature Archive
- Diocesan Historical Archives Monsignor Bianchi-Diocese of San Marino-Montefeltro
- Historical Archive of the Government of San Marino
- Website: www.vatican.va; www.gov.sm
- Interviews with historians and ecclesiastical figures will be collected to analyse the nature of these relationships.
Third Mission Objectives
- The formalization of diplomatic relations in 1926
- The Second Vatican Council and Religious Freedom. Regulation of Relations between State, Community and Religious Confessions. The Case of Small States
- Law no. 59/1974 amended and integrated (Law no. 36/2002): San Marino “Secular State”
- The Agreement between San Marino and the Holy See (2 April 1982)
- Visits of the Popes to the Republic of San Marino: John Paul II (1982) and Benedict XVI (2011)
- The Audiences with the Captains Regent in the Vatican
- Common interests and differences
- Appendix: list of apostolic nuncios and ambassadors with their brief biographies
Status of works
The research was started at the beginning of 2024.