L’action du Comité catholique de propagande française en Espagne (1916-1918)

Abstract

Under the leadership of Alfred Baudrillart, the Comité catholique de propagande française extended its influence into several neutral countries, such as Spain. Its activity there has been considered as the most remarkable in its history. The creation of the Comité may be seen as a consequence of the Union sacrée of 1914. Despite Baudrillart’s and Catholic reticence in general, Catholic forces, spurred by the hope of a change in religious policy after the restoration of relations with the papacy, agreed to work together with the French Government in the hope of a final victory. It must be said that the Comité catholique de propagande française was not an official initiative of the hierarchy due to pressure from the papacy which, in reality, did not want any initiative by the hierarchy to seem as if it was supportive of either of the factions in the conflict. This article confines its attention to the Comité’s action in Spain, and emphasises the two propaganda trips made by Baudrillart to Spain and the publication of the propaganda journal, the Revista quincenal.