The Vatican's opening of its archives in 2006 for the period of the papacy of Pius XI (1922-1939) has prompted a burst of historical research which is not only shedding new light on the role of the Holy See and the Church in this period of extraordinary political and social turmoil, but also on some of the major world events of this period. In 2008, a number of institutions created a research network, bringing together scholars from different countries who are working in these archives and highlighting its emerging work to the broader scholarly community. This book represents the proceedings from a conference of this research network, held in Providence, Rhode Island, at the Brown University in October 2010. (Series: Christianity and History. Series of the John XXIII Foundation for Religious Studies in Bologna - Vol. 11) *** "As the essays reveal, such a historic decision will impact the way that scholars interpret modern church history for years to come. Yet, as coeditor Charles Gallagher, S.J., reminds us in his introduction, the opening will also allow scholars 'to uncover a history which is not only papal, but political, cultural, economic, and global' (p. 17)." - The Catholic Historical Review, Vol. 100, No. 2, Spring 2014Ã?Â?

The compelling story of Pope Pius XI's secret relations with Benito Mussolini. A ground-breaking work, based on seven years of research in the Vatican and Fascist archives by US National Book Award-finalist David Kertzer, it will forever change our understanding of the Vatican's role in the rise of Fascism in Europe.

Pius XI was a complex figure who oversaw many changes during his pontificate, including the Lateran Treaty with Italy and the rise of Fascism in Europe. Aradi's book offers a nuanced and insightful look at the life and times of this influential figure, exploring his contributions to the Church and the world at large. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the Catholic Church or the politics of the early 20th century. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.