An International Mass Mobilization at the Risogimiento Period: The French Catholics’ Financial Help to the Papacy (1860-1870)

‪Many historians, for a few decades now, have studied the ‪ ‪Risorgimento‪ ‪ not only as an Italian phenomenon but as a European one. If the circulations of men and ideas have arisen the interest of the researchers, their attention has not been attracted as much by other subjects. This article studies, through the French example, the mobilization organised in the 1860’s to help financing the Papal States. After the loss of the Romagnas, the Marches and Umbria in 1859-1860 an important part of its revenues had been taken away. As a reaction catholics from all around the world sent donations or purchased debt bond from the Pope. Such a mobilization, encompassing religious as well as political motives, shows the increasing weight of the papacy in the catholicism of the mid 19‪ ‪th‪ ‪ century. It also shows the Church ability to mobilise an important part of the French population in favour of its position thanks to both traditional means and modern media.‪