ABSTRACT
The first political experience of organized Catholics in Italy was permeated by events that occurred in the period from the end of the First World War to the start of fascism. The history of the Partito Popolare Italiano (PPI) was consequently a very short one: founded in 1919, it was already banned by a fascist law in 1926. During the very few years of its existence it none the less made an important contribution to the democratic life of the country, and at the same time formed the basis for the long-lived Christian Democratic party in Italy after the Second World War. Leading PPI figures took part in its formation. In its brief life the PPI also promoted an important, but similarly short-lived initiative: Catholic politicians came together in the Secrétariat International des Partis Démocratiques d’Inspiration Chrétienne (SIPDIC), with important contributions from Italians, especially Luigi Sturzo.
