Otto von Habsburg, the crown prince turned politician, remained throughout his life a dedicated advocate of transnational collaboration rooted in Christian values. He held the view that a unified Europe should not diminish national identities but reinforce them. Central to this belief were Christian democratic movements, bridging lessons of the past with forthcoming challenges, forging links between nations and the continent.

In the latter half of the twentieth century, Italian Christian democracy emerged as a particularly strong embodiment of these ideals. The party led by Alcide De Gasperi played a pivotal role in post-World War II political reconstruction, fostering internal stability and becoming a major actor in advancing European unity. Drawing on Catholic social doctrine, they established governance prioritising human dignity, common good, and principles of solidarity and subsidiarity. These intellectual underpinnings aided the consolidation of the rule of law domestically and provided a framework for ethically grounded development of regional cooperation. The country thus became a driving force behind integration, illustrating how past ruptures can transform into a shared future.

Although following a different historical trajectory, Hungary’s Christian democratic tradition also found its political and moral mission within the European ethos. Following the regime change, European Union accession was not merely a strategic objective but a clear expression of core convictions—aligned with the vision upheld by Otto von Habsburg. Comparing the respective Italian and Hungarian experiences offers an opportunity to reassess the place of Christian democracy in contemporary Europe, where preserving and strengthening collective foundations remains a paramount challenge.

Programme

15.00 – 15.15    Welcoming addresses

Gergely Prőhle, Director, Otto von Habsburg Foundation, Programme Director, John Lukacs Institute

Enikő Győri, Member of the European Parliament, Former Hungarian Ambassador to Italy

15.15 – 16.15    Italian Christian Democracy and the Making of European Unity I.

Michael Gehler, Director of the Institute of History at the University of Hildesheim
Christian Democracy and the Building of Europe: The Italian Contribution

Anna Vincenzi, Assistant Professor of modern European history, Hillsdale College
The Early Stages of Italian Christian Democracy and the Thought and Influence of Luigi Sturzo

Jacopo Cellini, Researcher, Historical Archives of the European Union, European University Institute (EUI)
From the Habsburg Monarchy to a United Europe: Alcide de Gasperi’s European Vision

16.15 – 16.30     Coffee break

16.30 – 17.30    Italian Christian Democracy and the Making of European Unity II.

Zsolt Semjén, President of the Christian Democratic People’s Party
The International Relations of Hungarian Christian Democracy

Paolo Alli, Secretary General, Alcide De Gasperi Institute
Shaping the European Project: Lessons from De Gasperi for Today’s Europe

Gábor Andreides, Senior Research Fellow, National Remembrance Committee
„In church, De Gasperi spoke with God, Andreotti with the Priest”: The Degasperian Legacy in Giulio Andreotti’s Politics

17.30 – 17.45     Coffee break

17.45 – 19.00    Panel discussion: Italy’s Place in Europe – Legacy and Contemporary Perspectives

Rocco Buttiglione, former Italian Minister, Professor at the Edith Stein Institute of Philosophy

József Pál, Literary Historian, Head of the Department of Italian Language and Literature at the University of Szeged
Anna Vincenzi, Assistant Professor of modern European history, Hillsdale College

Moderated by Enikő Győri, Member of the European Parliament, Former Hungarian Ambassador to Italy

19.00                   Reception

The conference will be held in Italian, English, and Hungarian, with simultaneous interpretation provided.

We look forward to welcoming you!