Benito Mussolini
Head of the Italian government who signed the Lateran Treaty and concordat with the Holy See on 11 February 1929 as plenipotentiary of King Victor Emmanuel III.
The Lateran Treaty names “Cavaliere Benito Mussolini, Prime Minister and Head of the Government” as the plenipotentiary of the King of Italy, and his signature stands under the treaty beside that of Cardinal Pietro Gasparri (Lateran Pacts (1929), Treaty, preamble and signatures). Two days after the signing Pius XI, without naming him, spoke of the man whom Providence had caused him to meet, one free of the preoccupations of the liberal school (Pius XI, Address of 13 February 1929). See the Lateran Treaty Creates Vatican City.
In the timeline
- 11 February 1929, firm dateThe Lateran Treaty Creates Vatican City
On 11 February 1929 the Holy See and Italy sign a treaty and a concordat in the Lateran Palace. Italy recognises the pope’s sovereignty over Vatican City, and the Holy See recognises the Kingdom of Italy with Rome as its capital.