Italy

Italy became a nation-state belatedly in 1861 when the city-states of the peninsula and Sicily were united under King Victor EMMANUEL. The Fascist dictatorship of Benito MUSSOLINI that took over after World War I led to a disastrous alliance with Nazi Germany and Italian defeat in World War II. Revival followed. Italy was a charter member of NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC) and joined the growing political and economic unification of Western Europe, including the introduction of the euro in 1999. Persistent problems include illegal immigration, the ravages of organized crime, corruption, high unemployment, and the low incomes and technical standards of southern Italy compared with the more prosperous north.

The country is politically unstable but socially stable, although there are family problems partly due to large number of working mothers. Deep cultural differences can be felt between more radical northerners and more conservative Southerners. Roman Catholicism is no longer the state religion (since 1984). The Catholic Church is still influential in the Country. Some churches are very traditional but others renewed and very alive. Italy was once known as the Garden of Europe, but unfortunately now is more known for negative aspects (mafia, corruption in government, unemployment).

YWAM in ITALY:
YWAM Pescara with Giuseppe and Cristiana Restivo, YWAM Milano with Luigi and Paola Tommasi are the only locations present in Italy right now.

prayer needs:
- long term and short term staff
- for YWAM to continue be a catalyst for unity in the church and missionary organisations
- for political stability and integrity among those in leadership