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Historical Background 

The teaching of the catholic religion in Italian schools today refers to the Concordat as it happens in all the countries with a Catholic majority. From 1859 to 1929 the teaching of the catholic religion was a space, given by the State to the catholic church, with an emphasis on catechism; this space was allowed first, then resumed, and finally recognized by the Concordat. In 1923, teaching the Catholic religion in primary school was made compulsory. With the Lateran Pacts in 1929, a class of catholic religion was also introduced into secondary and high schools as “a basis and completion of state education”. 

The 1948 constitution of the Italian Republic acknowledges the 1929 Lateran Pacts, so the teaching of the Catholic religion was ensured in schools until 1984. 

The 1984 new agreement between the Holy Seat and the Italian Republic gives way to a wider religious culture – “The Italian Republic, recognizing the value of religious culture, and keeping in mind that the principles of Catholicism are part of the historic patrimony of the Italian people, will continue to assure, among the broader goals of education, the teaching of the Catholic religion in all public schools below university level. Respecting freedom of conscience and educational responsibility of parents, everyone is guaranteed the right to choose whether or not to take advantage of such teaching.”. 

The new Concordat agreement has made legitimate the teaching of the catholic religion, has inserted it among the school objectives, it has given a cultural, formative dignity equal to other subjects, to let students learn and command their knowledge and skills; it has also recognized the teaching of the catholic religion as more authoritative. The new curricula of the catholic religion, later elaborated, have better explained the role of the catholic religion among the school objectives. In fact, it is said that “it promotes, as well as other subjects, the full development of the student personality, adds to a higher level of critical skills and knowledge, encourages a critical reflection and an evaluation of the students’ experiences, helps to give significant response to the need of meaning in our lives and trains students to communicate their basic values, even starting a dialogue with different beliefs and cultures”. 

Legal Basis and Curriculum for RE 

An agreement between the Ministry of Education and the CEI – Conferenza Epicopale Italiana (Italian Episcopal Conference) has established: the curricula for the various types and levels of public schools; the ways in which said subject is organised, including the way it is positioned within the frame of the other lessons; the criteria for choosing textbooks; the professional profiles for choosing the teachers. 

In 2011, the publication of the Indicazioni Nazionali per l’Insegnamento della Religione Cattolica (National Guidelines for the Teaching of Catholic Religion) in the first cycle of education provided a structured and detailed framework for religious education in primary and lower secondary schools. This document outlined the specific learning objectives, emphasizing the role of Catholic religious education in fostering students’ personal growth, cultural awareness, and ethical reasoning. 

Following this, in 2012, the Indicazioni Nazionali per l’IRC was also introduced for secondary education, including lyceums, technical, and professional schools. These guidelines aimed to integrate Catholic religious education within a broader educational framework, ensuring that students in upper secondary schools could engage in a deeper and more critical reflection on religious themes, interfaith dialogue, and ethical challenges in contemporary society. 

Goals of Catholic RE today 

Today, the teaching of the catholic religion helps the acquirement of a religious culture for the making of man and of the citizen. His objective is also to assess the knowledge of the principles of Catholicism which is part of the historical heritage of our country and the relations between Christianity and other religions. It contributes to the building up of a moral conscience and offers principles for responsible choices when related to the religious problem. It also provides content and tools for a systematic reflection on the inevitable complexity of human existence, the meaning of human freedom, and the promotion of justice and peace.  

This report was written by Orazio Ruscica, the representative for Italy in EFTRE (08.04.2025).