February 11 is a national holiday inItaly. The date marks the anniversary of three historic pacts: the Lateran Treaty, which formally constituted Vatican City as an independent territorial state; a financial accord, which indemnified the Pope for the 19th century confiscation of the Papal States; and a concordat* to settle religious matters be tween the Roman Catholic Church and the government of Italy. Signed by Fas cist Dictator Benito Mussolini and a representative of Pope Pius XI, the pacts successfully survived World War II, Mussolini's fall and even a new post war...
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