Catholicism and Challenges of Modern Times. Papal Documents Existing during 1870-1893

To the end of the last century, the papacy succeded in gaining theoutstanding status lost in Europe. From this perspective, the 19th century, governed by multiple influences of the new outlook on society and state, would experience a real religoius refreshment, strongly felt nowadays. The authority imposed by the catholic principles and the struggle for defending a new identity forced the Catholic Church to oppose the menacing liberalism manifested in Europe at that time.