Catholicism in China during the early 1930s: The dispute between the Italian regime and French diplomacy regarding the Protectorate of Catholics in China
The French Religious Protectorate enabled France to act as the guardian of Catholics in China. After the 1858 Treaty of Tientsin, it protected Catholic missions and missionaries and was accepted as a diplomatic arrangement by the main international actors. While not being a signatory to the Protecto...
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| Published in: | Journal of Modern Italian Studies |
|---|---|
| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Articles |
| Published: |
Routledge
2025-12-01
|
| Subjects: |
Benito Mussolini and Chiang Kai-shek
;
Benito Mussolini e Chiang Kai-shek
;
Cardinal Celso Costantini
;
Cardinale Celso Costantini
;
Catholic Church and fascist regime
;
Catholic Church in China
;
Chiesa cattolica e regime fascista
;
Chiesa cattolica in Cina
;
Fascismo in Cina
;
French religious protectorate
;
Galeazzo Ciano
;
Protettorato religioso francese
;
fascism in China
;
Taylor and Francis+NEJM
;
Articles
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1080/1354571X.2025.2580094 |
| _version_ | 1877196292926472192 |
|---|---|
| author | Coco, Orazio |
| author_autocomplete | Coco, Orazio |
| author_browse | Coco, Orazio |
| author_facet | Coco, Orazio Coco, Orazio |
| author_sort | Coco, Orazio |
| building | Taylor and Francis+NEJM |
| container_issue | 0 |
| container_issue_str | 0 |
| container_title | Journal of Modern Italian Studies |
| container_title_str | Journal of Modern Italian Studies |
| container_volume | 0 |
| container_volume_str | 0 |
| description | The French Religious Protectorate enabled France to act as the guardian of Catholics in China. After the 1858 Treaty of Tientsin, it protected Catholic missions and missionaries and was accepted as a diplomatic arrangement by the main international actors. While not being a signatory to the Protectorate, the Catholic Church complied with its terms and accepted French diplomatic representation in matters of Chinese affairs. The agreement involved all missionaries from different countries in China, including those of Italian origin. Inevitably, over time, the Protectorate became a controversial question because it exposed the Church’s pastoral mission to interferences from foreign powers. In November 1928, Italy signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with China, enhancing political relations under Chiang Kai-shek’s leadership. It was the beginning of a new age of cooperation and reciprocities based on strong political affinities. A few months later, on 11 February 1929, Italy and the Holy See signed the Lateran Pacts, reestablishing diplomatic relations after Rome’s annexation to the Kingdom in 1870. Benito Mussolini saw the importance of aligning with the Church to gain the support of Catholics and strengthen his leadership. These agreements bolstered cooperation between the regime and the Church in domestic and international affairs. In China, the cooperation allowed the Church to gradually shift away from French diplomatic interference and finally attempt to connect, free of constraints, with the Chinese Nationalist government. _eprint: https://doi.org/10.1080/1354571X.2025.2580094 |
| doi_str_mv | 10.1080/1354571X.2025.2580094 |
| first_indexed | 2026-05-05T07:58:00Z |
| format | Articles |
| genre | Articles |
| genre_facet | Articles |
| id | zotero-S7PYBD2L |
| institution | zotero_group |
| issn | 1354-571X |
| last_indexed | 2026-05-05T07:58:00Z |
| latest_content_date | 2026-05-05T07:58:00Z |
| libraryCatalog | Taylor and Francis+NEJM |
| physical | 1-32 |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Routledge |
| publisherStr | Routledge |
| record_format | zotero |
| spelling | Catholicism in China during the early 1930s: The dispute between the Italian regime and French diplomacy regarding the Protectorate of Catholics in China The French Religious Protectorate enabled France to act as the guardian of Catholics in China. After the 1858 Treaty of Tientsin, it protected Catholic missions and missionaries and was accepted as a diplomatic arrangement by the main international actors. While not being a signatory to the Protectorate, the Catholic Church complied with its terms and accepted French diplomatic representation in matters of Chinese affairs. The agreement involved all missionaries from different countries in China, including those of Italian origin. Inevitably, over time, the Protectorate became a controversial question because it exposed the Church’s pastoral mission to interferences from foreign powers. In November 1928, Italy signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with China, enhancing political relations under Chiang Kai-shek’s leadership. It was the beginning of a new age of cooperation and reciprocities based on strong political affinities. A few months later, on 11 February 1929, Italy and the Holy See signed the Lateran Pacts, reestablishing diplomatic relations after Rome’s annexation to the Kingdom in 1870. Benito Mussolini saw the importance of aligning with the Church to gain the support of Catholics and strengthen his leadership. These agreements bolstered cooperation between the regime and the Church in domestic and international affairs. In China, the cooperation allowed the Church to gradually shift away from French diplomatic interference and finally attempt to connect, free of constraints, with the Chinese Nationalist government. _eprint: https://doi.org/10.1080/1354571X.2025.2580094 Routledge Journal of Modern Italian Studies Articles Taylor and Francis+NEJM 2025-12-01 Benito Mussolini and Chiang Kai-shek Benito Mussolini e Chiang Kai-shek Cardinal Celso Costantini Cardinale Celso Costantini Catholic Church and fascist regime Catholic Church in China Chiesa cattolica e regime fascista Chiesa cattolica in Cina Fascismo in Cina French religious protectorate Galeazzo Ciano Protettorato religioso francese fascism in China Taylor and Francis+NEJM Taylor and Francis+NEJM Coco, Orazio |
| spellingShingle | Catholicism in China during the early 1930s: The dispute between the Italian regime and French diplomacy regarding the Protectorate of Catholics in China Coco, Orazio Benito Mussolini and Chiang Kai-shek Benito Mussolini e Chiang Kai-shek Cardinal Celso Costantini Cardinale Celso Costantini Catholic Church and fascist regime Catholic Church in China Chiesa cattolica e regime fascista Chiesa cattolica in Cina Fascismo in Cina French religious protectorate Galeazzo Ciano Protettorato religioso francese fascism in China Taylor and Francis+NEJM Taylor and Francis+NEJM |
| title | Catholicism in China during the early 1930s: The dispute between the Italian regime and French diplomacy regarding the Protectorate of Catholics in China |
| title_autocomplete | Catholicism in China during the early 1930s: The dispute between the Italian regime and French diplomacy regarding the Protectorate of Catholics in China |
| title_full | Catholicism in China during the early 1930s: The dispute between the Italian regime and French diplomacy regarding the Protectorate of Catholics in China |
| title_fullStr | Catholicism in China during the early 1930s: The dispute between the Italian regime and French diplomacy regarding the Protectorate of Catholics in China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Catholicism in China during the early 1930s: The dispute between the Italian regime and French diplomacy regarding the Protectorate of Catholics in China |
| title_short | Catholicism in China during the early 1930s: The dispute between the Italian regime and French diplomacy regarding the Protectorate of Catholics in China |
| title_sort | catholicism in china during the early 1930s: the dispute between the italian regime and french diplomacy regarding the protectorate of catholics in china |
| topic | Benito Mussolini and Chiang Kai-shek Benito Mussolini e Chiang Kai-shek Cardinal Celso Costantini Cardinale Celso Costantini Catholic Church and fascist regime Catholic Church in China Chiesa cattolica e regime fascista Chiesa cattolica in Cina Fascismo in Cina French religious protectorate Galeazzo Ciano Protettorato religioso francese fascism in China Taylor and Francis+NEJM Taylor and Francis+NEJM |
| topic_autocomplete | Benito Mussolini and Chiang Kai-shek Benito Mussolini e Chiang Kai-shek Cardinal Celso Costantini Cardinale Celso Costantini Catholic Church and fascist regime Catholic Church in China Chiesa cattolica e regime fascista Chiesa cattolica in Cina Fascismo in Cina French religious protectorate Galeazzo Ciano Protettorato religioso francese fascism in China Taylor and Francis+NEJM Taylor and Francis+NEJM |
| topic_facet | Benito Mussolini and Chiang Kai-shek Benito Mussolini e Chiang Kai-shek Cardinal Celso Costantini Cardinale Celso Costantini Catholic Church and fascist regime Catholic Church in China Chiesa cattolica e regime fascista Chiesa cattolica in Cina Fascismo in Cina French religious protectorate Galeazzo Ciano Protettorato religioso francese fascism in China Taylor and Francis+NEJM Taylor and Francis+NEJM |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1080/1354571X.2025.2580094 |