Religion in Italy: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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|label1=[[Catholic Church|Catholicism]]

|value1=73.9

|color2=~~Green~~Grey

|label2=[[~~Islam~~Irreligion|No religion]]

|value2=315.97

|color3=~~Purple~~Green

|~~value3~~value4=3.0

|~~color4~~color5=Red

|~~label4~~label5=[[Protestantism]]

|~~value4~~value5=1.0

|~~color5~~color6=Orange

|~~label5~~label6=Other Christianity

|~~value5~~value6=0.9

|~~color6~~color7=Yellow

|~~label6~~label7=Other religion

|~~value6~~value7=1.7

~~|color7=Grey~~

~~|label7=[[Irreligion|No religion]]~~

~~|value7=15.7~~

}}

[[File:Religious service attendance in the italian regions 2021.png|thumb|200px|Attendance at a place of worship at least once a week per region.]]

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Italy is home to around 40,000 [[Jews]],<ref name="Cesnur-pluralismo"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ajcarchives.org/AJC_DATA/Files/AJYB727.CV.pdf |title=World Jewish Population, 2007 |publisher=Ajarchives.org |access-date=2 October 2015 |archive-date=26 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326020910/http://www.ajcarchives.org/AJC_DATA/Files/AJYB727.CV.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> who are one of the most ancient [[Judaism|Jewish]] communities in the world. [[History of the Jews in Italy|Jewish presence]] dates to the pre-Christian Roman period and has continued uninterrupted up to the present, despite periods of extreme persecution and occasional expulsions from parts of the country. Native Italian Jews, who form the core of the community in Rome, practice the [[minhag]] [[Italian Jews]], or "Italkim", but there are also [[Ashkenazi Jews]] who have settled in the North, especially in the lands of the former [[Republic of Venice]] ([[Veneto]], [[Friuli-Venezia Giulia]] and eastern [[Lombardy]]) and Piedmont, since the late [[Middle Ages]], and [[Sephardi Jews]], who have established themselves mostly in [[Livorno]], [[Florence]], [[Venice]] and several cities of [[Emilia (region)|Emilia]], after their expulsion from the [[Kingdom of Naples]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cesnur.com/lunione-delle-comunita-ebraiche-italiane/|title=L'Unione delle Comunità Ebraiche Italiane|work=cesnur.com}}</ref> The Jewish community of [[Milan]], the country's second largest after Rome's, is the most international in character and composition, notably including a substantial number of [[Mizrahi Jews]] originating from [[Libya]] and the [[Middle East]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2000/settembre/01/Gli_ebrei_aprono_sinagoga_co_7_0009017854.shtml|title=Gli ebrei aprono la sinagoga|trans-title=Jews open a synagogue|language=it|author=Gatti Fabrizio|publisher=corriere.it|date=1 September 2000|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003061014/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2000/settembre/01/Gli_ebrei_aprono_sinagoga_co_7_0009017854.shtml|archive-date=3 October 2015}}</ref> The twenty-one Jewish local communities are affiliated with the [[Union of Italian Jewish Communities]], which counts 25,000 members<ref name="Pace">{{cite book|last=Pace|first=Enzo|editor-last=Pace|editor-first=Enzo|title=Le religioni nell'Italia che cambia. Mappe e bussole|location=Florence|publisher=Carocci|date=2013|pages=134–135|chapter=Chapter 7: L'ebraismo: una memoria viva|isbn=978-88430-6731-2}}</ref> and is currently led by [[Noemi Di Segni]], a woman.

According to [[CESNUR]] (a non-profit organisation focused on studying religious pluralism), in 2023 in Italy there were about 3,200 adherents to pre-Christian, neo-pagan or neo-shamanic indigenous religions.<ref name="Cesnur-pluralismo"/> Modern forms of native polytheism is represented by [[Reconstructionist Roman religion]], which includes organisations such as ''[[Nova Roma]]'', the ''Associazione Tradizionale Pietas'', ''Communitas Populi Romani'', the ''Movimento Tradizionale Romano'', and the ''Societas Hesperiana pro Culto Deorum''. There are also pagans belonging to other European religions, such as [[Heathenry (new religious movement)|Heathenism]], to which the ''Comunità Odinista'' and the ''Tempio del Lupo'' belong; [[Druid]]ism, [[Hellenism (modern religion)|Hellenism]] and [[Wicca]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Alberto Castaldini|url=http://www.cesnur.org/2001/enc/aggsoc072001.htm|title=Le religioni in Italia|access-date=27 October 2018}}</ref>▼

===Immigration and future scenarios===

[[Immigration to Italy|Immigration]] has brought to Italy many religious minorities, especially [[Islam]], [[Eastern Orthodoxy]] and [[Oriental Orthodox Churches|Oriental Orthodoxy]]. By the numbers, in 2023 the country was home to around 2.3 million Muslims and virtually 1.8 Orthodox Christians.<ref name="Cesnur-pluralismo"/> Among the latter, especially relevant are the [[Romanian Orthodox Church]], which has a diocese of Italy, and the [[Greek Orthodox Church]] through the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]], whose [[Orthodox Archdiocese of Italy|Archdiocese of Italy and Exarchate of Southern Europe]] has its [[episcopal see|see]] in Venice. [[Massimo Introvigne]], founder and director of CESNUR once predicted that, thanks to continued immigration from [[Eastern Europe]], Orthodox Christians could soon become the country's second largest religious group, overtaking Muslims.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lastampa.it/2013/05/13/vaticaninsider/ita/inchieste-e-interviste/immigrati-crescono-gli-ortodossi-5upq1y5HWVtFFnix5K8WjN/pagina.html|title=Immigrati, crescono gli ortodossi|date=14 May 2013}}</ref>

Also Protestantism, especially in its Evangelical and Pentecostal forms, is on the rise: Introvigne recalls how [[Giorgio Bouchard]], a Waldensian pastor, told him that "when he was born, the typical Italian Protestant was a man, lived in Piedmont, had a last name like Bouchard and was a Waldensian", while "today, the typical Italian Protestant believer is a woman, lives in Campania or Sicily, is named Esposito and is a Pentecostal."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/inchieste-ed-interviste/dettaglio-articolo/articolo/religioni-religion-24785/|title=Immigrati, crescono gli ortodossi|publisher=La Stampa|work=lastampa.it}}</ref> Not surprisingly the [[Assemblies of God in Italy]] (150,000 members), the [[Federation of Pentecostal Churches (Italy)|Federation of Pentecostal Churches]] (50,000) and several smaller Evangelical/Pentecostal denominations have the majority of their communities in the South.<ref name="Cesnur-pluralismo"/><ref name="Naso">{{cite book |last=Naso |first=Paolo |editor-last=Pace |editor-first=Enzo |title=Le religioni nell'Italia che cambia. Mappe e bussole |location=Florence |publisher=Carocci |date=2013 |pages=115–118 |chapter=Chapter 6: Protestanti, evangelici, testimoni e santi |isbn=978-88430-6731-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.assembleedidio.org/dovesiamo.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407222755/http://www.assembleedidio.org/dovesiamo.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=2014-04-07|title=Dove siamo - Le chiese delle Assemblee di Dio in Italia sul territorio nazionale|work=assembleedidio.org}}</ref> Additionally, several foreign-born churches, especially [[African Pentecostalism|African Pentecostal]] and [[African-initiated church]]es, mostly Evangelical and/or Pentecostal, are taking roots in the country, especially in the North,<ref name="Butticci">{{cite book |last=Butticci |first=Annalisa |editor-last=Pace |editor-first=Enzo |title=Le religioni nell'Italia che cambia. Mappe e bussole |location=Florence |publisher=Carocci |date=2013 |pages=85–96 |chapter=Chapter 5: Le Chiese neopentecostali e carismatiche africane |isbn=978-88430-6731-2}}</ref><ref name="Masslo">{{cite book |editor-last=Naso |editor-first=Paolo |editor-last2=Passarelli |editor-first2=Alessia |editor-last3=Pisapia |editor-first3=Tamara |title=Fratelli e sorelle di Jerry Masslo. L'immigrazione evangelica in Italia |location=Turin |publisher=Claudiana |date=2014 |isbn=978-88689-8011-5}}</ref> where most foreign residents live.

~~|isbn=978-88689-8011-5}}</ref> where most foreign residents live.~~

Among the fastest-growing new religious denominations in Italy a special place is held by the [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] (who count around 414,000 faithful, including both members and other people regularly attending the [[Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses in Italy|Congregation]]'s meetings).<ref name="Cesnur-pluralismo"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cesnur.com/i-testimoni-di-geova-e-i-loro-scismi/i-testimoni-di-geova/|title=I Testimoni di Geova|work=cesnur.com}}</ref> Then come four faiths professed mainly by immigrants: [[Buddhism|Buddhists]] (360,000),<ref name="Cesnur-pluralismo"/> [[Hinduism|Hindus]] (220,000),<ref name="Cesnur-pluralismo"/> [[Sikhism|Sikhs]],<ref name=":2">{{cite web |title=How Sikhs saved the Italian cheese industry |url=https://www.globalindian.com/story/global-indian/parmesans-indian-connect-how-sikhs-saved-the-italian-cheese-industry/ |website=Global Indian |quote=Today, Italy has the largest Sikh population in Europe, only second to the United Kingdom, with an estimated number of 220,000}}</ref> and [[Mormonism|Mormons]] (28,500).<ref name="Cesnur-pluralismo"/><ref>{{citation |url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/facts-and-statistics/country/italy |title=Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Italy |work=Newsroom |publisher=LDS Church |access-date=2016-04-12}}</ref> According to [[Caritas Italiana]] (the CEI's charitable arm), in 2023 the immigrant population was 48.2% Christian (26.8% Orthodox, 16.5% Catholic, 4.3% Protestant and 0.7% other), 34.2% Muslim, 3.3% Hindu and 2.8% Buddhist.<ref name="Cesnur-pluralismo"/> According to the same source, in 2012 Italy was home to 850 "African Neo-Pentecostal churches", 750 foreign-language Catholic communities, 655 mosques or other Islamic houses of worship, 355 Orthodox parishes, 126 Buddhist temples, 60 Sikh ones and 2 Hindu ones.<ref name=":4">{{cite web|url=http://www.chiesacattolica.it/cci_new_v3/allegati/53507/SINTESI%20XXIII%20Rapporto%20Immigrazione.pdf |title=XXIII Rapporto Immigrazione 2013 |publisher=Chiesacattolica.it |access-date=2 October 2015}}</ref>

Sikhs are a growing religious minority in Italy, which has the second biggest Sikh population in Europe after the [[United Kingdom]] and sixth largest number of Sikhs in the world. Differently from [[CESNUR]] (a non-profit organisation focused on studying religious pluralism), according to other estimates, there might be between 200,000 to 220,000 Sikhs in Italy.<ref name=":2"/><ref>{{Cite news |title=Over 40,000 Sikhs vote in secessionist Referendum in Italy |work=Geo News |url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/415781-over-40000-sikhs-vote-in-secessionist-khalistan-referendum-in-italy |quote=it had chosen the city of Brixia because Italy had over 200,000 Sikhs living in the county with a majority in Brescia.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Around 45,000 Sikhs vote in Referendum in Italy |work=Daily Pakistan |url=https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/09-May-2022/around-45-000-sikhs-vote-in-khalistan-referendum-in-italy |quote=That it had chosen the city of Brixia because Italy had over 200,000 Sikhs living in it with a majority in Brescia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sikhs vote in referendum in Rome |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2022/07/03/sikhs-vote-in-referendum-in-rome-for-freedom-of-khalistan/ |website=Pakistan Today |date=3 July 2022 |quote=About 200,000 Sikhs live in different cities of Italy.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Sikhs vote in referendum in Rome |work=The Nation |url=https://www.nation.com.pk/05-Jul-2022/sikhs-vote-in-referendum-in-rome-for-freedom-of-khalistan |quote=About 200,000 Sikhs live in different cities of Italy.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Thousands of Sikhs attend parade in Italy |work=Bol News |url=https://www.bolnews.com/2022/05/08/italy/thousands-of-sikhs-attend-parade-in-italy-ahead-of-khalistan-referendum/index.html |quote=Italy has over 200,000 Sikhs who are active members of the Italian population, which is why this city was chosen}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=The Continuing Struggle for Religious Freedom by Italy's Sikh Community |url=https://thewire.in/external-affairs/sikhs-in-italy |website=The Wire |quote=It is estimated that there are around 220,000 Sikh migrants in Italy. The community, however, has been largely invisible to native Italians. The majority of Sikhs are dairy workers, living far from the cities, and settled mainly in the farms of north and central Italy.}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite news |date=29 July 2018 |title=How the recent Punjabi migration to Spain & Italy is a departure for the diaspora |newspaper=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/how-the-recent-punjabi-migration-to-spain-and-italy-is-a-departure-for-the-diaspora/articleshow/65180012.cms?from=mdr |quote=The total number of Indians in Italy has now crossed 200,000, making it the largest Indian diaspora in continental Europe and far greater than the 30,000 estimated in Spain. This Indian contingent is mainly made up of Punjabi Jat Sikhs.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bertolani |first=Barbara |title=Globalizing Belief, Localizing Gods |publisher=Brill Publishers |year=2013 |isbn=9789004254756 |pages=75 |chapter=The Sikhs in Italy: A Growing Heterogeneous and Plural Presence |quote="According to Gallo (2013), by contrast, the Sikhs would number at least 100,000. Barbara Bertolani estimates in 2013 "My own data gathered within the Sikh community in Italy show Sikh people constituting about 70% of all the Indians present, i.e., at least 84,000 residents"}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |title=Why the Indian government must help Italian Sikhs |work=Hindustan Times |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/columns/why-the-indian-government-must-help-italian-sikhs/story-y3yJS6zWOqnYkkVsDuvvAJ.html |quote=Up to 150,000 Sikhs now live there, making it the largest Sikh Community in Europe after the one in Britain}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=The Sikhs Spearheading The Italian Parmesan Cheese Industry |work=Homegrown |url=https://homegrown.co.in/homegrown-explore/the-sikhs-who-saved-parmesan-in-italy-are-now-fighting-to-save-themselves |quote=Despite the estimated 220,000 Sikh immigrants who inhabit the Po Valley, there seems to a whiff of change in the air}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite news |title=Sikhs vote in referendum in Rome |work=Pakistan Today |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2022/07/03/sikhs-vote-in-referendum-in-rome-for-freedom-of-khalistan/ |quote=About 200,000 Sikhs live in different cities of Italy.}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite news |last=Tebano |first=Elena |title=Prayer at dawn, zero crime: this is how Sikhs live in Italy, after the sentence of the Cassation |work=Corriere Della Sera |url=https://www.corriere.it/cronache/17_maggio_17/nulla-sikh-culto-preghiera-adcfa0ae-3a74-11e7-acbd-5fa0e1e5ad68.shtml |quote=The vegan diet, the cult, the traditions. Customs and symbols of the 150,000 faithful of the religion born in India who now live in the Bel Paese}}</ref> Most Sikhs currently reside and work in the agricultural sector in Emilia (mostly in the [[Parmesan|Parmesan cheese]] district), [[Lazio]] and Veneto.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mitzman |first=Danny |date=25 June 2015 |title=The Sikhs Who Saved Parmesan |work=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-33149580}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Logre |first=Sonia |date=25 October 2011 |title=Sikhs rescue Italy's Parmesan cheese |work=Yahoo |url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/sikhs-rescue-italys-parmesan-cheese-001050329.html |quote=Manjit Singh is part of a large community of Sikhs in northern Italy who are shoring up an industry under threat of extinction}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=The Sikh migrants keeping Italy's mozzarella industry alive |work=NewsWeek |url=https://www.newsweek.com/sikh-migrants-keeping-italys-mozzarella-industry-alive-327179 |quote=There are roughly 60,000 Sikhs living in the area, the second largest cluster in Italy. Roughly 800 of them work in the 2,000 dairy farms}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Sikh Farmers keeping Cheese Industry alive in Italy. |work=SBS Punjabi |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/language/punjabi/en/article/sikh-farmers-keeping-cheese-industry-alive-in-italy/qgh2y1q4m |quote=There are roughly 60,000 Sikhs living in the area and roughly 800 out of them work in 2,000 dairy farms that specialize in producing mozzarella and buffalo milk}}</ref> 5,000-5,800 Sikh soldiers died for the liberation of Italy during [[World War II]]. <ref>{{Cite news |last=Makkar |first=Daljit |date=28 April 2023 |title=8,500 Sikh Soldiers were martyred for the sake of Freedom in Italy |work=Rozana Spokesman |url=https://www.rozanaspokesman.com/news/world/280423/8500-sikh-soldiers-were-martyred-for-the-sake-of-freedom-in-italy.html |quote=About 8,500 soldiers have given their martyrdom for the sake of freedom in our country.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |title=Forli Indian Army War Cemetery |url=https://alittlehistoryofthesikhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Sikh-History-locations-in-Italy-Guide-A-little-History-of-the-Sikhs.pdf |journal=Forli Indian Army War Cemetery}}</ref><ref name=":52">{{Cite web |title=Italy Honours WWII Sikh Heroes With Grand Memorial |url=https://sikhchic.com/our_heroes/italy_honours_wwii_sikh_heroes_with_grand_memorial |website=SikhChic |quote=For the liberation of Italy, 5773 British-Indian Soldiers laid down their lives in Italy, of which the majority were Sikhs. Besides Forly, Sikhs also fought in Cassino, Florence, Ravana and Sangro River during World War II.}}</ref>

===Neopaganism===

▲According to [[CESNUR~~]] (a non-profit organisation focused on studying religious pluralism)~~, in 2023 in Italy there were about 3,200 adherents to pre-Christian, neo-pagan or neo-shamanic indigenous religions.<ref name="Cesnur-pluralismo"/> Modern forms of native polytheism is represented by [[Reconstructionist Roman religion]], which includes organisations such as ''[[Nova Roma]]'', the ''Associazione Tradizionale Pietas'', ''Communitas Populi Romani'', the ''Movimento Tradizionale Romano'', and the ''Societas Hesperiana pro Culto Deorum''. There are also pagans belonging to other European religions, such as [[Heathenry (new religious movement)|Heathenism]], to which the ''Comunità Odinista'' and the ''Tempio del Lupo'' belong; [[Druid]]ism, [[Hellenism (modern religion)|Hellenism]] and [[Wicca]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Alberto Castaldini|url=http://www.cesnur.org/2001/enc/aggsoc072001.htm|title=Le religioni in Italia|access-date=27 October 2018}}</ref>

==Demography==

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*[[Sikhism in Italy]]

*[[Baháʼí Faith in Italy]]

*[[Neopaganism in Italy]]

*[[Irreligion in Italy]]

*[[List of Italian religious minority politicians]]