Dounia Jaafir, Vanessa Gaertner

The Concordat

What is the concordat?

Agreement with Pope Pius VII to settle the relationship between the
government and the church

When was the concordat signed?

15th July, 1801

What were the agreements that were discussed?

17 articles (elaborated below),
Organic Articles:
The relation between the church and state are intertwined and any
political decisions by the pope must be approved by the government
beforehand

Why was the concordat written and how does the church and Napoleon benefit from it?
The government wanted to improve the people's opinion of the government after the reign of
terror which alienated the citizens of France from the church. By signing the concordat, the
church conveys that they acknowledge the republic as the government of france; political
considerations
The church wanted to be able to reinstate churches in France and freely practice their
religion ; religious aims

Benefits of the concordat for the government:

● First consul is able to assign bishops which are invested by the pope
● Church renounced the land previously confiscated
● Right to acknowledge civil marriage and divorce
● Bishop and priests take an oath of obedience and pledge their loyalty to the
government
● Prayers to the state and first consul were to be recited in all churches after divine
office

Benefits of the concordat for the church:

● Bishops receive their salary from the government
● Establishments of seminaries allowed
● Right to refuse candidates for the post of the bishop suggested by the first consul
● Freedom of action for catholic religion and public worship

sources:
https://www.britannica.com/event/Concordat-of-1801
https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01756a.htm
http://www.concordatwatch.eu/kb-1496.834
IB History Book
Dounia Jaafir, Vanessa Gaertner