Union of Fribourg

UNION OF FRIBOURG. - An association of European Catholics who studied social problems, established at the end of the last century, which through periodic conferences held at Fribourg sought to unite and direct their social tendencies toward a common end.

In Rome, chiefly through the initiative of Monsignor Domenico Iacobini (v.) and Monsignor Gaspare Mermillod (v.), several other students of social economy came together with the initial aim of research and discussion. Through Mermillod, a learned and vigorous polemicist, they entered into relations in 1883 with a group of French sociologists who directed the Oeuvre des cercles catholiques d'ouvriers, and with another group of German Catholics who, under the presidency of Prince Charles of Löwenstein (v.), were promoting their first congresses in Germany. This exchange of studies and rudimentary organization was the origin of the Union de Fribourg, which in 1884 began its periodic international conferences, hosted with favor by the government of that Catholic Canton. At these meetings, which Count Albert de Mun (v.) recounted in masterly pages, Italian Catholics could not be absent. Among others there were: Marquis Lorenzo Bottini, Count Cesare Sardi, Monsignor Jacobini, Monsignor Talamo (v.) and Count Edoardo Soderini.

Noteworthy is the important part that Count Medolago-Albani and Toniolo had among the Italians in the work of the U. di F. Medolago (v.) was a member of the Steering Council and national correspondent of the Union; moreover, he was president in 1886 of the Study Commission for the regime of rural property, together with Fleury Lorin (v.), rapporteur in 1887 on the state of social legislation in Italy, and one of the most active members of the Commission for the corporative regime. Giuseppe Toniolo (v.) brought to the discussions and resolutions the fruit of his profound scientific preparation, especially on the program of the organization and representation of the working classes and on the obligation of the State to intervene with appropriate legislation. These international gatherings continued for several years, and each closed with an address to the Holy Father, presenting the theses elaborated in the sessions and invoking from him a lofty guiding word. Mermillod, having meanwhile become Bishop of Geneva and cardinal, was the intermediary between Fribourg and the Vatican and kept Leo XIII informed, who followed the work of the Union with great attention. Similar invocations in those years reached the Pope from the International Scientific Congresses of Paris and from the Congresses of Social Works of Liège. So many hopes and prayers were not disappointed, and on 15 May 1891 Leo XIII issued the encyclical De conditione opificum (Rerum novarum [v.]), which, condemning the theories of socialism and liberalism, laid down a new and complete Christian social program.

Agostino Vian