Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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LATERAN TREATY

The agreement, signed on February 11, 1929, that finally settled the Roman Question and established Vatican City as a sovereign state under the authority of the Pope. At the same time, the Holy See recognized the Italian state with Rome as its political capital. The Italian state recognized "the Catholic, Apostolic and Roman Religion as the sole religion of the State," it declared "the sovereign independence of the Holy See in the international field," and the Holy See's "sovereign jurisdiction in the Vatican City." At the same time, a concordat was signed, providing for the teaching of the Catholic religion in the public schools, the civil recognition of marriages performed according to canon law, and the freedom of Catholic Action provided it is nonpolitical.