ANTONIO SANTIN BISHOP OF RIJEKA (1933 – 1938)

Mons. Antonio Santin važna je osoba istarske i riječke crkvene povijesti dvadesetoga stoljeća. Nakon petogodišnjega upravljanja Riječkom biskupijom, gotovo četiri desetljeća upravljao je Tršćansko-koparskom biskupijom. On nije nepoznata osoba, ali su historiografi dosad o njemu pisali najčešće parcijalno. Njegov lik i djelo, osobito zbog odnosa prema Hrvatima i Slovencima tijekom razdoblja talijanskog fašizma, tema je koja do danas izaziva razne, često i oprečne, stavove. Na temelju dokumenata iz riječkoga Nadbiskupijskog arhiva i koristeći hrvatsku, slovensku i talijansku bibliografiju, donose se novi podatci o njegovoj upravi riječkom Crkvom.Bishop Antonio Santin was an important person in the Istrian ecclesiastical history of the twentieth century. After five years of episcopate in Rijeka, Santin managed Diocese of Trieste and Koper for four decades. Certainly he was not unknown but historiography analysed Sanin’s work partially. Namely, his work – especially regarding his attitudes towards Croats and Slovenians during the Italian fascist regime – even present-day historiography evaluates quite differently. Therefore, author of this article on the basis of the data from the Archbishopric archives in Rijeka and the literature of the Croatian, Slovenian and Italian literature reveals new information about Santin’s administration in the Diocese of Rijeka. During his administration (1933-1938) Santin has strengthened bishopric apparatus: he expanded and upgraded seminary, stared a bishopric newsletter, and renewed personnel at the curial offices and in the Table Chapter where he appointed also Slavic canons. Moreover, Santin has broaden the borders of his diocese and included several Slovenian parishes, reorganized the only authentic monastic community in Rijeka (Daughters of the Sacred Hearth of Jesus), founded Women’s Teacher Training College, organized pastoral care among workers, helped Jewish community, reorganized catechesis in the local parishes, promoted Catholic publications, reorganized town’s processions in Rijeka, and fought against Sunday work. Unlike his predecessor, Santin preached bilingually, and enhanced presence of Slavic clergy in his diocese. The majority of Italianization together with the prosecution of the non-Italian clergy was performed during the 20s (in the city of Rijeka) and at the beginning of the 30s (on the Liburnia Riviera), which was prior to Santin’s administration. However, this fact still does not absolve him of responsibility, especially regarding the abolishment of šćavet (religious book, lectionary on Chakavian dialect), and permanent pressure on clergy to promote school religious education in Italian, as well as appointing Italian clerics in the Slovenian and Croatian parishes