Abstract

What the Concordat stipulated in 1984 between Italy and the Holy See has actually meant, and what could it still mean in the future, if seen today from 2024’s perspective? One can suggest three different interpretations: a Concordat of constitutional compliance, a Concordat of pluralistic development and secular projection or a Concordat of dialogue and cooperation. If contextualized in the ongoing realization of the principles of the 1948 Constitution, the three interpretations illustrate the coexistence of a ‘small’ 1984, which included the progressive enactment and application of three legal documents - the new Concordat, the first Intesa with a non-Catholic denomination and the 2th Canon law Code – and a ‘big’ 1984, indicating the renewed cultural climate and social environment which made the process of legal reform both possible and impactful.