Discover
The identity of the nation
Italy is one of the nations most steeped in Christian history in the world. It was on Italian soil that the early Church took root, where Peter and Paul preached and suffered martyrdom, and where Rome became the spiritual center of the West for more than sixteen centuries. The country hosts the Vatican, seat of the largest Christian denomination on the planet, and carries in its stones and art the memory of generation after generation of faith.
However, Italy today lives a deep contradiction: heir to one of the world’s oldest Christian traditions, it is experiencing one of the fastest processes of moving away from religion in Europe. Mass attendance has dropped sharply in recent decades; Italian youth are distancing themselves from religious practice at a growing pace. The faith that shaped Western art, philosophy and law has become, for many, merely cultural heritage rather than a living experience.
Within this picture, the evangelical and Protestant minority is small but persistent. The Waldensians, heirs of a pre-Lutheran reform born in northern Italy in the 12th century, keep alive a biblical tradition that survived centuries of persecution. Pentecostal and Baptist churches grew throughout the 20th century, especially in the south of the country. Today, Christian immigrant communities from Africa, Latin America and Asia bring new vitality to the faith in the country.
Italy is also a gateway for millions of refugees and migrants from Africa and the Middle East, including Muslims who have rarely had access to the gospel in their countries of origin. The country therefore represents not only a field for internal spiritual renewal, but a unique opportunity for witness among peoples of many nations.
The calling over Italy is one of restoration, not conquest. A nation that once sent faith to the whole world can become a living source once again, if the Church rediscovers the depth of the gospel beyond cultural heritage and reaches the generations that have never known Christ personally.
- Italic peoples inhabit the peninsula. Rome is founded, according to tradition, in 753 BC.
- 509 BC Founding of the Roman Republic. Rome expands its dominion across the peninsula and the Mediterranean.
- 27 BC Augustus inaugurates the Roman Empire. Beginning of the Pax Romana.
- 1st century AD Peter and Paul preach in Rome. Both are martyred under Nero, around AD 64-67. The Church of Rome gains prominence.
- 313 Edict of Milan: Constantine grants religious freedom to Christianity throughout the Empire.
- 380 Theodosius declares Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.
- 476 Fall of the Western Roman Empire. The Church becomes the main institutional power in Europe.
- 6th-9th centuries The pope and the papacy consolidate their political and spiritual influence. Monasticism flourishes.
- 1095-1291 The Crusades set out mainly from Europe, with Italian participation. Cities such as Venice and Genoa become commercial powers.
- 12th century Pedro Valdo founds the Waldensian movement in Lyon, which spreads through northern Italy. Biblical preaching in the vernacular, persecuted by the Inquisition.
- 1321 Dante Alighieri completes the Divine Comedy, a masterpiece that shaped the Italian language and medieval theology.
- 1350-1600 Italian Renaissance: an explosion of art, science and philosophy. Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Galileo and others transform Western thought.
- 1498 Martyrdom of Girolamo Savonarola in Florence, after preaching against the corruption of the Church and the clergy.
- 1559 The Italian Inquisition violently suppresses the Protestant Reformation in the country. Italian reformers flee to northern Europe.
- 1848 King Charles Albert grants religious freedom to the Waldensians. Beginning of a new era for Italian Protestantism.
- 1861 Unification of Italy: end of the papacy's temporal power over most of the territory.
- 1929 Treaty of the Lateran: the Vatican is recognized as an independent State by the Italian government.
- 1940-1945 World War II. Italy, an ally of Nazi Germany, suffers invasion and internal division.
- 1946 Italy becomes a Republic after a popular referendum. Beginning of democratic reconstruction.
- Today A nation with a strong Christian heritage but rapidly moving away from religion; an active evangelical minority; a mission field among immigrants of diverse origins.
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Italianofficial language, spoken by practically the entire population
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Germanspoken by about 300,000 people in South Tyrol (Alto Adige), an autonomous region in the north
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Frenchspoken in the Aosta Valley region, in the northwest, with local co-official status
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Slovenianspoken by minorities in the Trieste and Gorizia region, in the northeast
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Sardinianregional language of Sardinia, distinct from Italian; spoken by about 1 million people
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Regional dialectsVenetian, Neapolitan, Sicilian, Lombard and others, still with significant oral use
Italy occupies a long boot-shaped peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Adriatic Sea, along with the large islands of Sicily and Sardinia. The Apennine range runs through the country from north to south like a backbone, while the Alps close off the northern border with Switzerland, France, Austria and Slovenia. The Po River valley, in the north, is the flattest and most productive region of the country. The roughly 1,300 km length from north to south creates very distinct geographic, climatic and cultural realities between the regions.
Major cities
- RomeCapital city, historic and religious center, seat of the Vatican, 2.8 million inhabitants
- MilanThe country's largest economic and financial center, capital of fashion and design, 1.4 million
- NaplesLargest city in the south, birthplace of Neapolitan pizza, gateway to the Amalfi Coast
- TurinHistoric industrial center, home to Fiat, strong Waldensian and Reformed presence
- BolognaUniversity hub, renowned cuisine, well-preserved medieval architecture
- VeniceCity on stilts, World Heritage site, pilgrimage and tourism destination
- FlorenceHeart of the Renaissance, museums and art of world importance
- PalermoCapital of Sicily, rich in Arab, Norman and Baroque history
Climate and temperature
Neapolitan pizza
Thin dough baked in a wood-fired oven, with tomato sauce and mozzarella; UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Spaghetti alla carbonara
Pasta with egg yolk, pecorino romano cheese, guanciale and black pepper; a typical dish of Rome.
Bistecca alla fiorentina
Thick cut of beef grilled over embers, a specialty of Florence.
Ragù alla bolognese
Slow-cooked ground beef sauce with tomato, originating in Bologna; used in tagliatelle.
Risotto alla milanese
Creamy arborio rice with saffron, a specialty of Milan.
Arancini
Stuffed and fried rice balls, typical of Sicily.
Parmigiano Reggiano
Aged hard cheese, produced in Emilia-Romagna; intense flavor and grainy texture.
Tiramisù
Dessert with layers of savoiardi biscuits, mascarpone and coffee; originating in the Veneto.
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
Family as the central core
Italian life revolves around family; lunches and dinners together are sacred moments, especially on Sundays.
Regional pride
Italians identify first with their city or region rather than with the country; rivalries between north and south are deep and old.
Art and beauty in everyday life
Aesthetics matter: at the table, in clothing, in architecture. The concept of bella figura, looking good and being elegant, is present in almost every aspect of life.
Culinary culture
Eating well is a cultural and social act. Recipes are passed down between generations and vary radically from region to region.
Catholicism as cultural identity
Even among the non-practicing, baptism, church weddings and Christmas remain important milestones; religion shapes the social calendar.
Gestures and expressiveness
Italian communication includes expressive gestures and a raised tone of voice; silence is not read as respect but as coldness.
Distrust of the State
After centuries of fragmentation and unstable governments, many Italians cultivate skepticism toward public institutions and value personal networks of trust.
- Confusing regions and stereotypes Treating all of Italy as homogeneous is offensive: a Neapolitan and a Milanese live very different cultural realities.
- Speaking loudly in sacred places Churches, basilicas and shrines require silence and appropriate dress; shorts and bare shoulders are forbidden in most.
- Assuming everyone speaks English Outside tourist centers, English is limited; attempting a few words in Italian is greatly appreciated.
- Rushing meals The pace at the Italian table is slow and deliberate; asking for the bill too soon is considered rude.
- Expecting absolute punctuality The pace of life, especially in the south, is more relaxed; informal gatherings rarely start right on time.
- Treating the Catholic Church with disdain Even among secular Italians, Catholicism is part of Italian identity; institutional criticism can be poorly received by those who did not raise it themselves.
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
Italian religious identity is largely nominal; baptism and tradition replace personal faith in Christ.
Especially among youth, religion has been relegated to cultural heritage; active spiritual practice is increasingly rare.
Pride in Italy's historical greatness can make humility and openness to the gospel difficult.
The cult of family can turn inward, excluding those who are different and resisting a calling that goes beyond the clan.
The culture of bella figura can mask inner emptiness with social performance and superficial aesthetics.
The long history of political corruption creates skepticism also toward the Church and any spiritual authority.
The sense that rules are for others and the local jeitinho culture create resistance to submission and communal responsibility.
The north especially is marked by a lifestyle built on consumption, status and material well-being as a life goal.
Devotion to saints, amulets and magical protection practices coexist with nominal Catholicism in many regions.
The Mezzogiorno still faces structural unemployment, youth emigration and neglect; a lack of hope and vision for the future.
The growing Muslim community, largely without access to the gospel, represents both a mission field and a social tension.
Centuries of Inquisition and suppression of the Reformation created deep distrust toward Protestantism and evangelicalism.
In Italy, Christians have full freedom of worship, and the Italian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and expression of faith. The low score in the Open Doors ranking reflects this reality: there is no systematic persecution or state violence against Christians.
However, believers who convert from Catholicism to Evangelicalism or Protestantism may face family and social tension. Cultural pressure to maintain Catholic identity is real, especially in southern communities and traditional families. Conversion can be interpreted as a rejection of heritage and family identity, generating isolation and interpersonal conflict.
For Muslim immigrants who convert to Christianity, the risk is greater: rejection by their community of origin, family rupture and, in some cases, threats from relatives living in countries with more severe persecution. These second-generation converts are especially vulnerable and lack protection and welcome from local churches.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
Italy has 23 people groups considered unreached, according to Joshua Project, mostly Muslim immigrant communities from North Africa (Moroccans, Tunisians, Algerians), the Middle East and South Asia. These groups, who arrived in migratory waves starting in the 1970s, are concentrated in the major cities of the north, such as Milan and Turin, and in coastal regions. Most live in closed communities with little contact with the gospel. There are also groups of Romani origin (Roma and Sinti) historically marginalized. Most of the Italian population is classified as significantly reached by historic evangelicalism, but deep secularization makes the country an urgent field for re-evangelization.
- 1.6M Unreached 2,6%
- 464K Minimally reached 0,8%
- 54.6M Superficially reached 92,3%
- 2.2M Partially reached 3,6%
- 353K Significantly reached 0,6%
- 23 Unreached 22,3%
- 2 Minimally reached 1,9%
- 47 Superficially reached 45,6%
- 22 Partially reached 21,4%
- 9 Significantly reached 8,7%
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Wolof Frontier
Judeu Italiano
Somali Frontier
Southern Pashtun Frontier
Japonês
Thai central
Bosniak Frontier
Source: Joshua Project. Estimates, may vary.
Pray
Intercede for this nation
Every nation carries a redemptive purpose. Marks that seem woven into the identity God desires to restore:
Go
Practical details for those who want to go
Local time
Cost of living
varies significantly between north and south
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- Learn basic Italian: even in tourist cities, Italian is appreciated; attempting to speak the language opens doors and hearts.
- Check the hours of churches, museums and restaurants: midday closing (pausa pranzo) is still common in smaller towns.
- Dress appropriately to visit basilicas and shrines; covered shoulders and knees are required in many places.
- Train travel (Trenitalia, Italo) is efficient between major cities; book ahead for lower fares.
- In southern Italy, the pace of life is slower; adjust expectations regarding schedules and service.
- Keep documents and money secure in tourist areas; Rome and Naples have pickpocketing in crowded spots.
- Tap water is safe to drink in most of the country; drinking acqua del rubinetto is common and accepted.
- Credit cards are widely accepted, but small shops and local markets still prefer cash.
Send and sustain
Not everyone goes, everyone takes part
Not everyone goes. Everyone takes part.
Behind every worker among these peoples stands a network of people who pray without ceasing, care for the family left behind, and faithfully sustain the work. Sending is mission too.
Start with your church: introduce this nation, adopt it in ongoing prayer, and walk alongside those God is raising up to go.