Sturzo, Luigi

Sturzo, Luigi (lē`jē str`tsō), 1871–1959, Italian priest and political leader. He taught philosophy and sociology at a seminary in his native Sicily. In 1919 he founded the Popular (Roman Catholic) party and became its political secretary. In the elections of Nov., 1919, the new party secured about one fifth of the seats in parliament and became an important force in Italian politics. After the rise of Fascism Sturzo was forced to live in exile, first in England and later in the United States; his party was officially banned. It was revived, however, after Benito Mussolini's downfall and renamed the Christian Democratic party. Sturzo returned to Italy after World War II and in 1952 was made a senator for life.

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Sturzo, Luigi

(born Nov. 26, 1871, Caltagirone, Sicily—died Aug. 8, 1959, Rome, Italy) Italian priest and political leader. Ordained a priest in 1894, he earned a doctorate in Rome, then returned to his native Sicily to help the oppressed miners and peasants. As mayor of Caltagirone (1905–20), he built community housing and other public works. In 1919 he founded the Italian Popular Party and became its political secretary. Refusing to support Benito Mussolini, he went into exile in 1924. He returned in 1946, when his political movement was revived as the Christian Democratic Party. In 1952 he was appointed senator for life. He wrote several works of Christian social philosophy, including Church and State (1939) and Italy and the Coming World (1945).