Figure 1.--Irish priest, John Patrick Carroll-Abbing (1912-2001), founded Boys' Towns of Italy inspired by Edward Joseph Flanagan (1886-1948) in the United States. Father Carroll-Abbing founded the first Italian Boys' Town at Civitavecchia (near Rome) in 1945. It was followed by eight additional Boys' Towns during 1946-1955. Here we see the boys in 1945 going to school. |
We have no detailed information about orphanages in Italy. We suspect that most orphanages in Italy were founded and supported by the Catholic Church. We are not sure to what extent the state was involved. One might think that the Fascist Government in the 1920s-40s might have given some attention to orphans. There must have been a serious problems with orohaned and displaced children in Italy after World War II. We have no details on the situation at this time. Hopefully our Italian readers will provide us some information about orphanages in Italy. We do know that an Irish priest, John Patrick Carroll-Abbing (1912-2001), founded Boys' Towns of Italy inspired by Edward Joseph Flanagan (1886-1948) in the United States. Father Carroll-Abbing founded the first Italian Boys' Town at Civitavecchia (near Rome) in 1945. It was followed by eight additional Boys' Towns during 1946-1955.
We have no detailed information about orphanages in Italy. We suspect that most orphanages in Italy were founded and supported by the Catholic Church. Traditionally until the 20th century, it was the Catholic church that was respinsible for social welfare in Italy.
We are not sure to what extent the state was involved. One might think that the Fascist Government in the 1920s-40s might have given some attention to orphans.
There must have been a serious problems with orohaned and displaced children in Italy after World War II. The Allies invaded Sicily (Juky 1943) and Italy proper (Sptember 1943). The NAZIs realizing that Italy was preparing to sign an armistace, seized control of Italy befopre the allies landed. As a result, there was fighting all alomng the Italian peninsula until the Germans surrendered (May 1945). The result was extensive destruction and large numbers of displaced and orphaned children.
We do know that an Irish priest, John Patrick (1912-2001), founded Boys' Towns of Italy. Father Carroll-Abbing was born in Holdham (Ireland). As a young man he went to Rome in 1930 to study for priesthood. After becoming a priest he served in Italy. As a result of World war II, he saw the need to care for the many displaced and orphaned children. He was inspired by Edward Joseph Flanagan (1886-1948) in the United States who founded Boys' Town. Father Carroll-Abbing founded the first Italian Boys' Town at Civitavecchia (near Rome) in 1945. He took in both orphans and abandoned stree children. The Boys' Town of Civitavecchia was known as "Repubblica dei Ragazzi" (Boys' Republic). Boys studied and worked in the "Republic". Of course the problem of abandoned children did not just exist in Rome. The first Italian Boys' Town was followed by eight additional Boys' Towns during 1946-1955.
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