STURZO, LUIGI ), Italian priest and political organizer. Born at Caltagirone, Sicily, on Nov. 26, 187o, he showed ability in creating diocesan committees, co-operation unions, etc., and guiding the masses in the direction of Christian democracy. On the outbreak of the World War, he came to Rome as secretary of the Azione cattolica. After the armistice he was chosen political secretary of the Partito Popolare italiano, founded early in 1919. The general tendency of the party was Christian Socialist, and Don Sturzo advocated social reforms of a radical nature, especially in agriculture, as the majority of the party's ad herents were peasants; unlike the Socialists, he demanded the expropriation of the land with compensation for the landlords at the expense of the taxpayers, collaboration of capital and labour and a patriotic foreign policy; an extremist wing was led by Sig. Miglioli.
At the elections of Nov. 1919, the Partito Popolare secured 101 seats, and became a dominant force in Italian politics. When
Sig. Bonomi was trying to form a cabinet after the fall of Giolitti in Feb. 1922, it was Don Sturzo who dictated its com position. In the early days of Fascism Don Sturzo did not oppose it, although there were frequent affrays between the black-shirted squadre and the Migliolini. After the march on Rome he allowed several Popolari to enter the cabinet, but his half-hearted support of the Mussolini Government resulted in their withdrawal, and Don Sturzo and his party definitely joined the opposition. A section of the party broke away and constituted the Centro nazionale cattolico. The Vatican issued an admonition to priests not to mix in party politics and hinted that he would be well advised to leave Italy. He consequently went to England and France. In 1925 he published Pensiero antifascista, and in 1927 Italy and Fascism in English. (L. V.)