ITALIAN CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY FEDERATION (F.U.C.I.)
The very title of federation indicates a union of bodies sharing common aims and a homogeneous membership.
University circles appeared early in Catholic Action. One arose in Pavia, among the first (1874), during the episcopate of Monsignor Parocchi and under his successor Monsignor Riboldi, and among its members was the Blessed Contardo Ferrini; others then arose under various names in Milan, Genoa, Bologna, and even in Rome, where St. Sebastian was chosen as patron, and finally in Naples, Catania, and Palermo.
As the Opera dei Congressi developed under the presidency of Paganuzzi, the need was felt to organize and federate these student forces, which gave great promise for Catholic Action.
The promoters of a Federation of University Circles were, first of all, Prof. G. Toniolo, who in the city of Pisa often gathered student friends in his home, then the young Peppino Micheli of Parma, animator and head of his Giovane Montagna, Don Romolo Murri in Rome, who at that time gathered around him his first young adherents, and also Baron Luigi De Mattheis of Naples, vice-president general of the Opera dei Congressi.
1. The occasion for the realization of the plan was the XI Italian Catholic Congress, which in 1896 was to be held in Fiesole with excellent prospects for fruitful revival throughout Tuscany; and indeed, after brief discussion in the competent section, the foundation of the F.U.C.I. was decided. I was given the announcement by the Dominican Fr. Antonio Luddi, a noted preacher, with speeches of greeting and commentary by G. Toniolo, Paganuzzi, M. Murri, and Melchi. The federation consisted of a union of circles and had as its first president Baron Luigi De Mattheis.
Membership grew rapidly. The first tangible fruits appeared in 1899 when, with the celebration in Como of the centenary of the invention of the pious A. Volta with a scientific congress, at the initiative of G. Toniolo, he found himself surrounded by young university students from all parts of Italy who proved to be precious collaborators.
But the most solemn and resounding manifestation occurred the following year, 1900, the Holy Year, when the F.U.C.I. was able to promote an International University Congress in Rome, a magnificent gathering in which participated scholars of clear fame. The young Catholic students received significant expressions of sympathy from Pope Leo XIII, now ninety years old, and from the entire ecclesiastical body. The chronicle of those days records the names of Angelo Mauri, Giulio De Rossi (later a priest), Paolo Arcari, Domenico Russo, Antonio Bogni, Lodovico Necchi, Don Carlo Sonnenschein, and M. Sangner, who left very distinct marks in Catholic Action.
Upon the presidency of Baron De Mattheis there succeeded, at that time, that of Angelo Mauri of Milan, a brilliant intellect on whom the leaders pinned great hopes. However, after a few years, all Catholic Action fell into crisis, and with the dissolution of the Opera dei Congressi (1904), the F.U.C.I., although not directly affected, suffered a setback. This, however, was brief. Soon a fresh group of students from various universities regained strength, and under the guidance of Mario Augusto Martini of Florence, they revived the central organization, presenting themselves to St. Pius X, who blessed them. The problem of ecclesiastical assistance was also resolved with its own means, with the young priest Giandomenico Pini, a law graduate, coming to Milan for this office, and Cardinal Ferrari, the archbishop, giving him much encouragement.
Thus the F.U.C.I. had found its way again, which it pursued without fear with the social motto *Fides, Scientia, Patria* and with the most sincere adherence to the Roman Pontiff.
This second period was not, however, without difficulties; but good will overcame all obstacles, thanks especially to the valiant federal presidents and, above all, to the propaganda of Don Pini, who for several years made his apostolate one with that for young students. The F.U.C.I. was watched with anxious but benevolent eyes by Pius X, who hoped it would be immune from modern errors; during the World War, Benedict XV showed it great affection, claiming even for himself membership in a university circle (that of Genoa); eloquent testimony was given to it by Pius XI, who reorganized all Catholic Action, legitimizing even the female branch and especially appointing as general president Igino Righetti, with Monsignor G. B. Montini as assistant (1923), after Monsignor Pini had passed to the general assistance of Catholic Youth.
Under the presidency of Righetti, the F.U.C.I. experienced periods of flourishing and periods of trial: noteworthy is the Congress of Macerata, opposed by the Fascists, and the harassing days of 1931, which affected all Catholic Action.
Quiet was not long in returning, and with it recovery. In 1932, a national congress held in Cagliari revealed the renewed vitality of this organization, with its unmistakable character, made up of perfect joy and at the same time of serious cultural and religious direction.
After the Congress of Trento (1934), its general president Igino Righetti, founder of the graduate movement, gave up the leadership, held for nine years, to Giovanni Ambrosetti of Verona (Monsignor Montini had been succeeded in 1933 as central assistant by Monsignor G. Anichini), and after him, called to arms, Aldo Moro succeeded him, who in turn was succeeded in 1942 by Giulio Andreotti.
The two trials of the Second World War, while somewhat slowing future action, did not succeed in stopping it; so much so that in 1944, as soon as the din of arms had ceased, the F.U.C.I. was able to rally its ranks under a new president, Ivo Murgia.
In the new statutes of Catholic Action, the F.U.C.I., together with the female branch, received its definitive diocesan organization and a clear statement of its purpose: the formation of high school students.
In 1946, the fiftieth year of the F.U.C.I.'s life was celebrated, and old and new members were gathered at the place of origin. In Fiesole, where the celebration took place in the suggestive Roman setting, it was called the feast of fidelity.
In recent years, the presidency passed from Ivo Murgia to Carlo Moro and from him to Romolo Pietrobelli, always marking new advances in both organizational and cultural spheres.
The most recent national congress (the 30th in the series) was held in Genoa, at the Teatro Carlo Felice (3-6 Sept. 1949), with the participation of two thousand university congressists and the general president of the International Movement of Catholic Students (I.I.I.E.C.), Pio Romana, to which the F.U.C.