Arianna Sakoutis

Mrs. Lucarelli
Honors World History
5 November 2016
Religion in Italy
The current influence of religion in Italy is Roman Catholic which is someone who
is a member of the Roman Catholic Church. Italy is a Christian country with about 90
percent of the population identifying themselves as Roman Catholic and a third of that
count practicing this religion weekly.
The provenance of Christianity is in Vatican City, Rome. Rome is the capital of
Italy and inside is The Vatican. A monarch city state that is most known for Christianity
as well as the home of the pope. People practice this religion in many ways. Catholic
practices revolve around the Liturgy and the seven sacraments. Baptism, Confirmation,
Communion, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. The
purpose of the sacraments is to make people holy, pay respects the body of the Christ,
and finally to worship God. According to Georgetown University Roman Catholic
Practices, Understood as outward signs of God's presence, sacraments mark major
transitions in life and, in the case of Communion and Reconciliation, are part of life's
textures. This quote suggests that the sacraments create a large connection to God
who plays a major role in Christianity. Christian services mainly take place in Church
where they will pray, preach, and sing about the holy spirit . There are also Christian
Holidays in Italy. Christmas is a holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. To children

a folklore was created introducing Befana, the Italian Christmas Witch who delivers toys
to boys and girls depending on whether they are good or bad. Another holiday is the
monday after Easter locally known as La Pasquetta. It is apart of the Easter holiday
celebrations that are celebrated across Italy. It is a popular time to take short breaks to
the countryside with friends and/or family. While I visited Italy, I noticed that many
people strongly cherished God and the beliefs of Christianity. There were many
churches and religious sites in every city. The similarity in religion throughout Italy
creates a sense of unity and bring people together to celebrate one main thing. Also
while in Italy I had the opportunity to experience the culture in many cities, including
Rome. I noticed that most tourist sites where revolved around religion. For example,
The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, The Basilica di San Marco in Venice,
and of
course The Vatican in Rome. According to Life in Italy by Francesca Bezzone,
She explains how Italy is a Christian, more precisely, Catholic country in her spirituality
and culture, albeit she has been enriched throughout her history by the presence of a
plethora of minorities of the uttermost importance. She explains the country of Italy as if
it is person because it portrays such vitality and beauty. Italys religious roots date back
centuries before it became a successful county. Christianity was the bases of Italy that
helped it reach its potential to this day.
Overall, No matter what religion you are when going to Italy, you will welcome
and embraced by its religious beliefs and spirituality. The religion in Italy makes
everyone feel equal and comfortable if one is visiting or living in the magnificent country.

The religion of Christianity in Italy will remain a trademark to this day of how the country
is unified and at peace with one another.

Work Cited

Bezzone, By Francesca. "Religion in Italy." Italy. 02 Nov. 2016.

"How Italian Traditions Work." HowStuffWorks. 25 July 2011.
Landed, S.L. Just. "Religion in Italy." Just Landed. 18 Nov. 2014.