RIMOKATOLIČKA MISIJA I KLERIKALIZAM NA KOSOVU I METOHIJI U KRALJEVINI JUGOSLAVIJI
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSION AND CLERICALISM IN KOSOVO AND METOHIJA IN THE KINGDOM OF YUGOSLAVIA

Summary/Abstract: The Roman Catholic clergy in Kosovo and Metohija were highly active in this region, contrary to the dictates of the Yugoslav government authorities. Italy’s interest in maintaining a strong influence of the Albanian and Italian clergy on Yugoslav territory prevented the Church from making a clear ecclesiastical distinction between the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and Albania. The representatives of Church authority in the areas bordering on Albania were mostly foreigners (Albanians, Italians), and Yugoslav citizens, Slovenians and Croatians, who largely held anti-Yugoslav and anti-Serbian views. With such foreign, pro-Italian clergymen, appointed by the Franciscan provincial of Skadar or by the Skadar Jesuits, Italy could successfully promote its interests through ideas about creating "Greater Albania". The realization of a political, national, and cultural program was impossible in the border areas of Roman Catholic parishes. Italian imperialist goals and the interests of the Roman Catholic missionaries were almost identical. The Franciscans and Jesuits of Skadar played a deciding role in instilling among the Roman Catholic Shiptar population the idea of belonging to the Roman Catholic culture, in encouraging their pro-Italian sentiments, and in the denationalization and proselytism of the Serb population in Kosovo and Metohija.

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