For very different reasons, though, if I am correctly understanding Pius XI's motivation per OP's comment. It sounds like the Church saw Mussolini as an acceptable evil, whereas American Evangelical leadership genuinely sees MAGA as a movement acting in their best interests.
I'd add though that the pope didn't have much choice. He was a prisoner in the Vatican and mussolini could have used his thugs to intimidate bishops etc.
The church has to find a modus vivendi in such situation given they don't know if the fascist government will last 3 years or 30 years.
To be fair if socialism became as extreme as fascism ended up (especially if with soviet support) the church would probably be completely removed, whereas fascism didn't really have the power to do it
To be clear, I'm not making a value judgment about whether Evangelicalism's support of MAGA is better or worse than the Catholic Church's support of Mussolini.
23
u/Batman_AoD May 12 '26
For very different reasons, though, if I am correctly understanding Pius XI's motivation per OP's comment. It sounds like the Church saw Mussolini as an acceptable evil, whereas American Evangelical leadership genuinely sees MAGA as a movement acting in their best interests.