Italian Culture - Religions of Italy

Before Christianity gained a firm grip on the people of Italy, ancient Romans worshipped a series of gods and goddesses. There were so many gods and goddesses that each one had a particular role in governing various areas of worshippers' lives. For example, the goddess Juno was believed to watch over the women of Rome, and it was to Juno that they prayed for guidance, along with Minerva, who was known as the goddess of wisdom. Mars was considered an important god because he ruled over the wars, and Jupiter was the god of the sky.

Of course, as Christianity was gradually introduced into various areas of Rome, the need for these gods and goddesses invariably died. Obviously, the Roman Catholic Church is considered the most powerful church in Italy, and with good reason. The Vatican, otherwise known as the Holy See, is located in Rome, and this is where the Pope, who is the head of the church, resides. The history of the Roman Catholic Church is based as much on politics as it is on religion, and in some ways this holds true today.

At one point, religion began a rather hasty descent and continued to spiral downhill until the counter-Reformation Movement. Due to the Protestant Reformation Movement and the many abuses that went on within the Catholic Church, a need arose for a turn around and a resurrection of truly religious beliefs within the church. Pope Paul III was able to begin leading the church away from the political games that had taken such an active role in the past. The Jesuits, a newly created religious order, was created, along with the Council of Trent, which was made up of men willing and ready to deal with the doctrinal dilemmas created by the influx of the Protestant religion.