Italy

Capital: Rome

Major Language: Italian

Area: 301,340 km2

Population: 60.5 million

HDI Rank: 29 of189

Major Religion:

Catholics: 42 million (69%)

Other Religions:

Orthodox: 2.5 million (4%)

Protestants: 2 million (4%)

Other: 14 million (23%)

General Information:

Italy became a nation-state in 1861. Rome was founded in 753 B.C. In the 15th century, they initiated the Renaissance. Since the rise of the Roman Empire, Italian art, architecture, and culture have influenced the world. The world's first bank, the first casino and the first public opera house all began in Italy. The country is famous for its Roman Colosseum; food, like pizza and pasta; expensive sports cars, like Ferrari and Lamborghini; artists, like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo; and fashion brands, like Gucci and Prada. Galileo and Columbus were Italians. Soccer is the most favorite sport in the country.

Religious Background:

Religion in Italy is characterized by the predominance of Catholicism and an increasing diversity of religious practices, beliefs and denominations. Italy is at the heart of the Catholic Church, which is governed from the Vatican City, a city-state surrounded by Rome. Catholicism is the dominant religion in Italy. Vatican City, which is the headquarters of over one billion Catholics worldwide, is within the territory of Italy and has a massive influence on the growth of Catholic Church in the country. Italy has 20% population that profess to be atheist and agnostic.

Catholic background:

Italy's ecclesiastical organization of the Catholic Church was established by the 8th century. Out of the 266 popes, 196 popes were Italians. Some renowned leaders are Benedict, founder of the Benedictine order, Leo the Great, Gregory the Great, Francis of Assisi and Thomas Aquinas. Owing to the Italian Renaissance, church art in Italy is extraordinary, including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. The Church is composed of 60 archdioceses, 155 dioceses and 25,694 parishes. Patron saints: Francis of Assisi, Catherine of Siena.

Prayer Points

1. Italians to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior

Pray that everyone will get an opportunity to hear the gospel and come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

2. Catholics to know Christ

Pray for the salvation of 42 million Catholics in Italy.
Most Catholics are nominal and many are enslaved to tradition or disillusioned with church structures. Pray for the Catholics to know the living Christ.
Ask the Holy Spirit to bring about a revival and spiritual awakening in the country.
Pray that Catholics will examine their faith in the light of God’s word, and not trust in man-made traditions, beliefs and practices.
Pray for all the Catholics attending the 25,694 parishes to come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Pray for the cardinals, archbishops, bishops, 50,148 priests, 23,719 brothers and 102,089 sisters.
Pray that the Catholics who have never heard the gospel will get an opportunity to hear and embrace the gospel and trust Christ as their Lord and Savior.

3. Evangelicals to grow and multiply

Italy has become known as a graveyard for Protestant missionaries. Italians are largely indifferent to the gospel, though relational evangelism and fellowships in small groups seem effective. Pray for culturally relevant methods to be adopted. Pray that Evangelicals will reach out to their neighbors and friends with the gospel truth.

4. Social evils and issues in the country

Organized crime, corruption, high unemployment, are some of the issues that plague Italy. Materialism, occultism, satanism, with pagan and New Age practice are gaining influence across the nation. Pray for the power of God to set them free.

5. Other Religions

Some of the religions in Italy include Jehovah’s Witness, Mormonism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Judaism. A fifth of the population are non-religious. Pray for the witness among them in a spirit of love, wisdom and patience.