Poles in Italy An outline of history, pastorate, organization and press

Abstract

Among the many bonds between Poland and Italy the significance of religion and culture has always been fundamental. From the 12^th century they made Polish scholars go to Italian universities and Italian artists and architects go to Poland where they constructed palaces and churches bringing to Poland their many centuries old cultural and religious experiences.

The Polish Legions and participants in the unsuccessful November and January Uprisings were another group of Poles in Italy. After World War II the Polish colony in Italy was joined by soldiers of the 2^nd Polish Corps who remained in Italy, most of them for political reasons. In the 1980’s about 30-35 thousand Poles emigrated from Poland to Italy; they next went to Canada, USA and other countries. Poles living in Italy always gathered round the Church and Polish priests. They made up a lot of Polish organizations, numerous foundations (The Margravine J. Umiastowska Foundation, The Lanckorońskis Foundation, The John Paul II Foundation) and scholarly institutes (Polish Historical Institute, Papal Institute of Ecclesiastical Studies). For several years the Polish colony in Italy, which earlier was associated in numerous Polish Circles and Centres, has been united and is represented by the Polish Association in Italy. The John Paul II Polish Home with the Centre for Documentation of John Paul II’ Pontificate that exists in Rome plays an important role. There are many Polish language periodicals, starting from the II Corps’ press, up to the “Polonia Włoska. Biuletyn Informacyjny” (“Polish Colony in Italy. Information Bulletin”) and periodical published by the Poles' Christian Association Quo Vadis that appear today. The Polish emigration is still very much diversified, the reason being the motives for leaving Poland and the time of stay abroad. The generation of the II Corps starts to die out and temporary economic emigration begins to dominate that is not interested in creating and developing Polish culture in Italy. At present the number of people in the Polish colony in Italy reaches 30 thousand.

Poles have had their place in the Italian society for years. In the past Italian, for whose freedom Poles fought, called the Polish nation “La nazione nobile” (the noble nation). Now this good opinion of Poland and Poles is being shaken by the shameful behaviour of some of our countrymen who are looking for a way of quickly earning money in Italy, or of easy survival – in the case of people from the social lower classes. However, there are also Poles who, beside the Holy Father John Paul II, honestly work for Poland’s and Poles’ good name.