Pietro Gasparri
The cardinal who, as Secretary of State and plenipotentiary of Pius XI, signed the Lateran Treaty and concordat with Italy on 11 February 1929.
The Lateran Treaty names Cardinal Pietro Gasparri, Secretary of State, as plenipotentiary of the pope, and he signed it in Rome on 11 February 1929 (Lateran Pacts (1929), Treaty, preamble and signatures). Pius XI told the parish priests of Rome that day that his Cardinal Secretary of State was at that hour signing a treaty and a concordat in the Lateran Palace with Benito Mussolini (Pius XI, Address of 11 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.