Religion Italian style: continuities and changes in a Catholic country

Italy's traditional subcultures - communist, socialist, liberal, republican and right-wing - have largely dissolved and yet Catholics have retained their vitality and solidity.

How can the vast majority of Italians continue to maintain some connection with Catholicism?

How much is the Italian situation influenced by the closeness of the Vatican?

Answering these questions, this book examines just how intricately religion is inverwoven with the nation's fabric and the dynamics of the whole society.