page_title: Germany–Holy See relations
section_title: Kulturkampf
hierarchical_section_title: Germany–Holy See relations / Historical relations / Kulturkampf
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Karikatur „Zwischen Berlin und Rom“ aus dem Kladderadatsch, 16. Mai 1875. Die Bildunterschrift lautet:(Papst:) „Der letzte Zug war mir allerdings unangenehm; aber die Partie ist deßhalb noch nicht verloren. Ich habe noch einen sehr schönen Zug in petto!“(Bismarck:) „Das wird auch der letzte sein, und dann sind Sie in wenigen Zügen matt - - wenigstens für Deutschland.“Der Karikaturist hat irrtümlich die weißen Spielfelder aus Spielersicht links (statt rechts) platziert. English: Kulturkampf caricature "Between Berlin and Rome" from Kladderadatsch, 16 May 1875. The caption reads:(Pope:) "The last move was certainly very unpleasant for me; but that doesn't yet mean the game is lost. I have one more very fine move up my sleeve!"(Bismarck:) "It will also be the last, and then you are mated in a few moves - at least for Germany." On the lower left corner of the table, it can be seen that several bishops have already been imprisoned (internirt) by Bismarck. Some of the chess pieces bear words: Interdict, Encycl., Syllab. and Klostergesetz. Others are symbols of German state power (Germania represents the German Empire, section signs represent German law) or Catholic ecclesiastical power (mitres represent episcopal authority). Note the caricaturist's error in orienting the chessboard by placing white squares on players' left. Polski: Karykatura kulturkampfu "Między Berlinem a Rzymem" z Kladderadatsch, 16 maja 1875. Pod ryciną tekst:[Papież:] Ostatni ruch był wprawdzie dla mnie przykry; jednak partia nie jest jeszcze przegrana. Mam jeszcze jeden bardzo dobry ruch w zanadrzu![Bismarck:] To będzie także Twój ostatni, a potem w kilku ruchach dostaniesz mata — — przynajmniej dla Niemiec.
context_page_description: Formal diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the current Federal Republic of Germany date to the 1951 and the end of the Allied occupation. Historically the Vatican has carried out foreign relations through nuncios, beginning with the Apostolic Nuncio to Cologne and the Apostolic Nuncio to Austria. Following the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire and the Congress of Vienna, an Apostolic Nuncio to Bavaria replaced that of Cologne and that mission remained in Munich through several governments. From 1920 the Bavarian mission existed alongside the Apostolic Nuncio to Germany in Berlin, with which it was merged in 1934.
context_section_description: A main theme of European history in the 18th and especially 19th century was the secularization of society which was vehemently opposed by the Catholic Church. In Germany, this process had its first culmination in the German revolutions of 1848–49 and, after their suppression, gained new momentum with the establishment of liberal governments in various German states in the 1850s and 1860s and in the empire in the 1870s. The Catholic Church, an outspoken opponent of Liberalism, had opposed German unification under predominantly Protestant Prussian leadership and the Church was seen as defending the oppressed Catholic Polish minority which German nationalists saw as a threat. Therefore, Chancellor Bismarck regarded the Church as a threat to the newly founded empire, especially after establishment of a Catholic political party which became a strong opposition in parliament. The Liberals, particularly in light of new Catholic dogmas promulgated under Pope Pius IX in the 1860s and at the Council of 1870, had always considered the Catholic Church as an enemy of progress.
  Laws enacted in the state of Prussia and in the empire in the early 1870s to curb Catholic influence in public affairs met with open resistance of the Church leading to heated public debates in the media and in the parliaments during which the term “Kulturkampf” gained widespread currency. Diplomatic ties with the Vatican were cut and additional laws were passed to quell Catholic opposition. This only resulted in more support by the Catholic population and more resistance by the Church. During the Kulturkampf, four bishops and 185 priests in defiance of the laws were trialed and imprisoned and many more were fined or went into exile.
  After the death of Pius IX in 1878, Bismarck took up negotiations with more conciliatory Pope Leo XIII who proclaimed the end of the Kulturkampf on 23 May 1887.
caption: Between Berlin and Rome, Bismarck (left) confronts the Pope, 1875
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