La representación diplomática provisional de la Santa Sede en España durante la guerra civil (1936-1938).

Abstract

The aim of this doctorate investigation paper is analyzing the different temporary diplomatic representations of the Roman Catholic Church in Spain during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). Within the conflict, the Holy See changed the Nunciature before the legal government of the Second Republic towards the recognition of the uprising General Franco by appointing a maximum representative before him. The Pope had three different temporary representatives during this period of time. First of all was Cardinal Silvio Sericano, who was the Business Manager of the Nunciature in Madrid when the war burst out. At the beginning, his mission was covering the position after the leave of the previous Nuncio Mgr Tedeschini in June, 1936 but he finally kept the control until the end of the war. The second one was held by the Primate Archbishop of Toledo, Cardinal Isidro Goma. He was relocated by the Pope in December, 1936 and was appointed with a confidential and unofficial nature, to represent the Holy See before the military uprising government. The third representative –from July, 1937 to June, 1938- was Monsignor Ildebrando Antoniutti, who would be the Holy See Business Manager before the Franco government from October. The study of these three representations will depict how the Holy See was gradually cancelling the relationship with the Republican Government as they were growing out those with the winning uprising front. We will also study the different internal positions within the Church confronting the Spanish episcopate with the Holy See regarding the situation in Spain and the role that the Church should take. This analysis did not only focus on the political features but also on the humanitarian actions and the daily life of the people.