Abstract

The essay provides a comprehensive overview of how religious welfare activities in Italy have historically influenced and continue to shape the State’s approach to social assistance, highlighting the nuanced and ongoing interplay between religious motivations and public welfare systems. It explores the intersection of religious welfare and State law in Italy, discussing how religious practices addressing poverty have historically transitioned into public responsibilities, reflecting a deep-rooted connection between religious motivations and civil benefits. Despite the lack of extensive comparative studies on religion’s role in social security systems, the essay emphasizes that religious organizations have been fundamental in shaping Italy’s welfare system. The analysis also traces the evolution of Italy’s social assistance from exclusively religious roots, highlighting that up until the modern state’s establishment religious organizations were primary providers of charitable activities. Over time, these activities integrated into public competencies, transformed that needs into social rights while maintaining their religious underpinnings. The research focuses on the faith-based welfare supported by public funds, as the so-called «8 per mille», that is a special legal way for the State commitment in religious welfare. It is especially addressed to non-Catholic religious denominations, that in Italy are minorities ruled by the so-called «Intese»: specific agreements signed by the Italian Government and the religious minorities representatives (like the Valdo-Methodists – and other Christian traditions –, Jewish, Hinduist, and Buddhist communities). These groups balance their unique religious identities with their roles in providing social assistance, and the essay describes some significant examples about this social-religious welfare supported by public grants.