| Description: | The course aims to investigate the Church as if it were a living organism which influences many aspects of Italian society, including law, politics, relations between Church and State and the ties between the Catholic Church and the city of Rome. An especially meaningful contribution to these relationships was made by Pope John Paul II, who, more than many other pontiffs, profoundly influenced the ongoing development of the Church in recent years, placing special emphasis on relations with young people and with those of other faiths, especially in the wake of September 11th. The course, which takes the form of classes, encounters and site visits, shall be structured around three fundamental themes: the figure of John Paul II and the impact of his spiritual legacy on the ongoing development of the Roman Catholic Church, as well as the influence of his actions on the history and politics of the 20th century; the organization of the Church as the world's smallest sovereign state, with an analysis of the operating mechanisms and the institutions of the Vatican State; the day-to-day impact of the Catholic Church on the city of Rome and its inhabitants, in terms of society, culture and education. |