Concordat

Until 1980, a concordat was an agreement between the Pope and a government or sovereign on religious matters. This often included both recognition and privileges for the Catholic Church in a particular country, as well as the ability of a state to influence the selection of bishops within its territory.

The term is also used for agreements setting out the framework for co-operation between United Kingdom government departments and the Scottish Executive and the Cabinet of the National Assembly for Wales: for examples see DEFRA.
*Concordat of Worms (1122) between Pope Calixtus II and Holy Roman Emperor Henry V
*Concordat of 1753 with Spain
*Concordat of 1801 between Pope Pius VII and Napoléon
*Concordat of 1802 between Pope Pius VII and Napoléon
*Concordat of 1851 with Spain
*Concordat of 1855 between Pope Pius IX and Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph
*Concordat of 1925 between the Holy See and the Republic of Poland
*Lateran treaties (1929) between Italy and Pope Pius XI formally defining the Vatican City
Reichskonkordat (1933) between the Holy See and the Third Reich
*Concordat of 1940 with the Portuguese government under Antonio de Oliveira Salazar
*Concordat of 1953 with Spain

This type of formal agreement is generally no longer used by the Vatican, the last classic concordat, with Spain, having expired in 1980. A different model of relations between the Catholic Church and states is still evolving in the wake of the Second Vatican Council's Declaration on Religious Liberty, Dignitatis Humanae.

Rate this Article

Was this article helpful?

Not at all Definitely                  1 2 3 4 5