After the World War I, the Italian catholic church strengthened its ties with fascism since it was seen as the only possible political alternative to the weakness of liberal democracy. Although they agreed on some principles, the Lateran Pacts signed in 1929 were a result of many compromises between the two on political, cultural, educational and social issues. P. Tacchi Venturi SJ was a very skillful mediator, used by the Pope to resolve the most important conflicts with Mussolini; he was the silent witness who took part in the crucial events that marked Italian history during the fascist regime. Daiana Menti will discuss these relationships in light of new documents found in Pietro Tacchi Venturi's Archive.

Menti is the AAR/Scuola Normale di Pisa Exchange Fellow in Modern Italian Studies.