Is Italy a secular country?

Italy has been a secular state since the enactment of the Constitution in 1948 (stressed by a Constitutional court’s decision in 1985), but still recognizes a special status for the Catholic Church.

When did France become a secular country?

The 1905 French law on the Separation of the Churches and State (French: Loi du 9 décembre 1905 concernant la séparation des Églises et de l’État) was passed by the Chamber of Deputies on 9 December 1905. Enacted during the Third Republic, it established state secularism in France.

What is the main religion in Italy and France?

Furthermore, Catholics are the largest religious group in many of the continent’s most populous countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain, according to an analysis of recent Pew Research Center surveys in 34 European countries.

Why did Italy become secular?

The Fascist period was marked by the Concordat between the state and the Catholic Church, known as the Lateran treaty of 1929. In 1984, following a revised accord with the Vatican, Catholicism lost its status as the official religion of the Italian state and Italy became a secular state.

How is Italy secular?

It may be surprising to some that Italy is —officially— a secular country. Most Italians identify as Christians (80.8\%), followed by nonaffiliated people (13.4\%), with the third-largest religious group being Muslims (4.9\%).

Is Spain still a Catholic country?

Three-quarters of Spaniards define themselves as Catholics, with only one in 40 who follow some other religion. …

What are the 3 main religions in Italy?

Religion in Italy

• Christianity (83.3\%)
• Islam (3.7\%)
• Buddhism (0.2\%)
• Hinduism (0.1\%)

Does Italy have freedom of speech?

Freedom of expression and freedom of the press are protected by the Italian Constitution of 1948 in its Article 21, which sets forth: “Anyone has the right to freely express their thoughts in speech, writing, or any other form of communication.