PAOLO PIERACCINI 

Il Patriarcato latino di Gerusalemme (1918-1940).

Ritratto di un patriarca scomodo: mons. Luigi Barlassina

N. 185

Summary — Mons. Barlassina arrived in Palestine in August 1918. Like his predecessors, he was an object of interest to the Italian authorities, which considered the latin patriarchate a useful means of expanding Italian culture and influence in the region. The priest was particularly combative, and reluctant to allow himself to be turned into a tool of the expansionist aims of the great powers. Nevertheless, by pretending in many cases to fit in with French and Italian designs, he was able, during his many years in office in the Holy Land (1920-47), to obtain generous financial support for his patriarchate. Barlassina strongly opposed the British, who in those years were the ruling powers in Palestine. He saw in Britain a nation disposed to protect zionism, Greek orthodox Christian rivals in Christian holy places, and protestants, of whom he feared the competition in educational institutions. On many occasions he created such problems for the ruling powers as to upset even the Vatican, which had every interest in maintaining cordial relations with Britain.