La strategia canonizzatrice di Pio XI (1922-1939) tra femminismo, Francia e fascismo

Durante il suo pontificato Pio XI ha adottato una chiara e lucida strategia canonizzatrice in risposta a particolari contingenze storiche e per veicolare le proprie linee guida. Da una parte sono stati presi in considerazione i numerosi beati e santi francesi, attraverso i quali il papa offre la propria risoluzione delle tensioni in atto con la Francia (si pensi alla condanna di Action française), mentre dall'altra si sono analizzate le voci di dissenso espresse nei confronti di fascismo e nazionalsocialismo in alcuni interventi papali legati alla santificazione di religiosi educatori o di figure chiave come Domenico Savio e don Bosco. Inoltre, il sensibile aumento dei modelli agiografici femminili, insieme con l'interpretazione offerta ai fedeli della beata Paola Frassinetti, vengono letti come il riflesso di una chiesa che inizia a problematizzare l'esistenza della questione femminile, seppur in contrapposizione ai movimenti femministi di matrice socialista o laicista, che negli anni del pontificato rattiano si diffondono notevolmente. During his pontificate pope Pius XI adopts a clear strategy on canonization in response of historical contingencies and in order to spread his guidelines. On one hand the article focusses on numerous French blessed and saints, through which the pope suggests his solution to the conflict with France (suffice it to think of the condemn of Action française); on the other hand it analyses dissenting voices on fascism (Italy) and nationalism (Germany) in several papal speeches linked with the sanctification of educators or key hagiographical figures such as Domenico Savio or don Bosco. Moreover, the slightly increase in female blessed and saints reveals a first attitude of the Catholic Church towards gender issues, even though in strong opposition to socialist and liberal movements of women liberation.

During his papacy Pius XI adopted a clear canonization strategy both in response to specific challenges and in order to implement a series of guide-lines promoted by the papacy. This essay will look in particular at his consideration for the numerous French blessed and French saints through which the pope sought to resolve various tensions with France (one only needs to remember the ban on Action franqaise) and at the expressions of disagreement expressed towards fascism and national-socialism by Papal intervention in the canonization of religious educators such as Domenico Savio and don Bosco. Furthermore, the notable increase of available models offemale sainthood, and the interpretation offered to the faithful of Blessed Paola Frassinetti are read as marks of a church that is increasingly engaged with the problematics of the women s question, even though in opposition to secular and socialist readings of it.