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Pietro Tacchi Venturi (1861—March 18, 1956 An attempt to assassinate Venturi with a paper knife one year before the treaty's completion made headlines around the world. Venturi himself had begun the process of reconciliation by convincing Mussolini to donate the library of the Palazzo Chigi to the Vatican. According to Susan Zuccotti, Venturi "had an uncanny ability to gain access where more official papal diplomats could not" and thus was utilized for some of the most important papal priorities. Venturi had no official rank in the church to match his extraordinary influence, and was known in Vatican circles as the "man in black".

Early life (1861-1922)

Venturi was a Jesuit, with an established a reputation as a scholar of history and literature. His ''magnum opus'' was a history of the Jesuits. Venturi's another important work was the publication of previously unpublished writings of Matteo Ricci, arguably the most important founding figure of Jesuit China missions. The ''Opere storiche del P. Matteo Ricci, S.J'' (Historical Works of Fr. Matteo Ricci, S.J.) appeared in two volumes in 1911 and 1913, and included Ricci's letters as well as his ''Commentarj della Cina'' (Commentary on China), the Italian manuscript that had been previously published only in the expanded and edited Latin version of Nicolas Trigault (as ''De Christiana expeditione apud Sinas''). However, Venturi's lack of knowledge of Chinese made it necessary for Fr. Pasquale d'Elia to produce another, better annotated edition of Ricci's manuscripts (known as ''Fonti Ricciane'') some 30 years later, in the 1940s. Venturi was the official historian of the Italian branch of the Jesuit order and the Secretary of the Society of Jesus from 1914 to 1921. Venturi was admitted into the Pontifical Academy of Archaeology and other scientific bodies.

Pius XI's liaison to Mussolini (1922-1939)

Chigi library donation (1922)

, whom he befriended before his rise to power. Mussolini "liked and trusted" Venturi, whom he had known since 1922, during the Fascist struggle for power. The friendship between the two predated Mussolini's rise to power. He thus became the "normal instrument for messages between the pope and Mussolini". Venturi's relationship with Mussolini became professional when Pius XI chose him to negotiate the purchase of the ancient library of the Palazzo Chigi from the newly created Fascist regime (the Italian government was on the verge of buying the collection). Venturi persuaded Mussolini to donate an ancient state collection of religious books to the Vatican free of charge. Vatican attempts to buy the texts date back to Pope Benedict XV, who lacked the requisite funds to complete the transaction. Mussolini's donation became the start of the process of reconciliation between the Italian government and the papacy, which had been at odds since the ''Risorgimento'' seized the Papal States. His political views could generally be classified as a strain of Clerico-Fascism.

Lateran Treaties (1927-1929)

In May 1928, already internationally known as a negotiator of the Lateran Treaty on the resolution of the "Roman Question", Venturi survived an attempted assassination by "Signor De Angelis" with a paper knife, receiving only a neck laceration when he ducked out the way. The ''New York Times'' described Venturi as the "chief negotiator, who remains in the dark and is almost unknown". Venturi received the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus from the Italian monarchy in 1932 for his role in negotiating the treaty.

Mussolini novel (1929)

At the urging of Venturi, Mussolini wrote a second book—''Una Conversione''—about his conversion to Catholicism, meant as a sequel to his twenty-year old novel which was extremely critical of the church: '''' (translated and published in English as ''The Cardinal's Mistress''). Venturi himself wrote the preface.

Catholic Action (1931)

In 1931, Venturi negotiated the end to a dispute between Pius XI and Mussolini regarding, ''Azione Cattolica'', the Italian branch of Catholic Action. Mussolini allowed the 15,000 youth organizations to reopen, but they were required to affiliate closely with the official Fascist youth organization, Opera Nazionale Balilla.

Drafting of the Anti-Jewish laws (1938)

Venturi was kept informed by Mussolini during the drafting of Italy's anti-Jewish laws, expressing concerns about the effect of the laws on Catholics, both through mixed marriages and Catholic converts from Judaism.

Role under Pius XII (1939-1956)

, Mussolini's successor, to advocate the continuation of the Anti-Jewish laws which did not affect Catholics. Upon the election of Pius XII by the papal conclave, 1939, it was announced that Dom Francesco Tomasetti (d. May 5, 1953 On the eve of World War II, Venturi persuaded Mussolini to give his approval to Pius XII's plan to mediate between the Five Powers.

Opposition to repeal of Anti-Jewish laws (1943)

In August 1943, when Marshall Pietro Badoglio, Mussolini's successor, was contemplating a complete rescission of Italy's anti-Jewish laws, Venturi met with the Secretary of the Interior and requested that only the portions affecting Jewish converts to Catholicism be repealed. Venturi assured Maglione: :"I took care not to call for the total abrogation of a law which, according to the principles and traditions of the Catholic Church, certainly has some clauses that should be abolished, but which clearly contains others that have merit and should be confirmed."

The Roman ''razzia'' (1943)

After the Roman ''razzia'', Venturi recommended to the Vatican Secretariat a "symbolic and therefore sham inquiry into the fate of the Jews of Rome". He reasoned, "a step like this by the Holy See, even if it does not obtain the desired effect, will without doubt help increase the veneration and gratitude toward the August Person of the Holy Father".

Death

Nothing else is known of the role of Venturi after the death of Mussolini on April 28, 1945, or for that matter after Mussolini's fall from power. Venturi died "virtually forgotten" on March 18, 1956, at the age of 95.

Notes

References

Blet, Pierre, and Johnson, Lawrence J. 1999. ''Pius XII and the Second World War: According to the Archives of the Vatican''. Paulist Press. ISBN 0809105039.
Chadwick, Owen. 1988. ''Britain and the Vatican During the Second World War''. Cambridge University Press.
Goldhagen, Daniel Jonah. 2002. ''A Moral Reckoning''. Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0375414347
Morley, John. 1980. ''Vatican diplomacy and the Jews during the Holocaust, 1939-1943''. New York: KTAV Pub. House. ISBN 0870687018.
Phayer, Michael. 2000. ''The Catholic Church and the Holocaust, 1930–1965''. Indianapolis: Indiana University Press. ISBN 0-253-33725-9.
Webster, Richard A. 1960. ''The cross and the fasces: Christian democracy and fascism in Italy''.
Zuccotti, Susan. 2000. ''''. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-08487-0