Catholicism and patriotism of the Brazilian clergy

Dom Leopoldo’s participation in the restoration movement (1908-1923)

Abstract

The relationship between Catholicism and patriotism is a relevant issue today, especially considering the original meaning of this concept according to Christian doctrine and the social teaching of the Church in contemporary times. This article deals with the role played by D. Duarte Leopoldo e Silva, first archbishop of São Paulo (1906-1938) through the analysis of his “patriotic conferences”, which were given on the occasion of the Centenary of Independence. In these lectures he shows the patriotism of the clergy in Brazilian society, highlighting the services they provide in the socio-political sphere. The archbishop’s activities took place in the context of the “Catholic Restoration” (1920-1930). To achieve this objective, the following will be considered: conceptualization of patriotism in the Christian tradition, then an overview of the restoration movement that characterized Brazilian Catholicism, especially in that decade, is presented. Within this framework is the exposition of the prelate’s patriotic speech. The journey will show that the ecclesiastical institution moves away from the end of its existence and the commitment to the common good, denying the meaning of patriotism, as it is concerned with guaranteeing its presence in society as a religious institution allying itself with temporal power.