View source for Pietas Comunità Gentile

{{Short description|Religious organization in Italy}}

{{Multiple issues|
{{Cleanup press release|1=article|date=May 2025}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2025}}
{{Unreliable sources|date=May 2025}}
{{Rough translation|listed=yes|date=May 2025}}
}}

{{Infobox organization
| name                     = Pietas Comunità Gentile
| formation                = 2020 
| headquarters             = [[Rome]]
| leader_title             = Pontifex Maximus
| leader_name              = Giuseppe Barbera
| website                  = https://tradizioneromana.org/
| logo                     = Logo for Associazione Tradizionale Pietas.jpg
}}

Pietas Comunità Gentile, commonly referred to as '''Pietas''', is a religious organization that represents the followers of the [[Reconstructionist Roman religion|Traditional Roman Religion]]. The community was founded in 2020 by the Associazione Tradizionale Pietas (ATP).<ref>Wild Hunt. Italy formally recognizes Religio Romana organization. The Wild Hunt. December 18, 2020. Available at: https://wildhunt.org/2020/12/italy-formally-recognizes-religio-romana-organization.html.</ref>

Since the 2000s, the ATP<ref>Castagnetto, A.M. and Palmisano, S. (2021) ‘Beyond monotheism. Topics, groups and political interpretations of neo-paganism in Italy’, Polis (Bologna, Italy), 36(3), pp. 413-. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1424/102289.</ref> has been undertaking projects to reconstruct various temples <ref>La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno. Culto e cultura nel segno della dea, sorge a Taranto il tempio di Minerva. La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno. February 4, 2023. Available at: https://www.lagazzettadelmezzogiorno.it/video/video/1415466/culto-e-cultura-nel-segno-della-dea-sorge-a-taranto-il-tempio-di-minerva.html</ref> across [[Italy]] and began the legal process to obtain official recognition<ref>Dipartimento per le Libertà Civili e l’Immigrazione. Riconoscimento giuridico. Ministero dell’Interno. Available at: http://www.libertaciviliimmigrazione.dlci.interno.gov.it/it/riconoscimento-giuridico.</ref> from the state, drawing inspiration from similar organizations in other European countries such as the associations Thyrsus and [[YSEE]] in [[Greece]].

As part of the ATP, the Comunità Gentile contributed to the revival of [[Religion in ancient Rome|classical worship]] since 2009, building temples and places of worship throughout Italy. Every year, the association organizes public celebrations, such as the [[Natale di Roma]], as well as private religious gatherings.<ref>Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia. Natale di Roma all’Etru. Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia. Available at: https://www.museoetru.it/natale-di-roma-alletru.</ref>

Since 2010, under the ATP, the Comunità Gentile has been registered with [[European Congress of Ethnic Religions|ECER]].<ref>European Congress of Ethnic Religions (ECER). Organizations. European Congress of Ethnic Religions. Available at: https://ecer-org.eu/organisations/.</ref>

On June 30, 2023, Pietas participated in the ECER meeting, where delegations from 17 nations drafted and signed the Riga Declaration,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-04 |title=riga declaration {{!}} Search Results {{!}} ECER |url=https://ecer-org.eu/?s=riga+declaration |access-date=2024-05-04 |language=en}}</ref> aimed at urging governments to recognize European ethnic religions. Additionally, since the beginning of the new millennium, some groups have resumed performing public rituals, such as the one on the day of the [[Natale di Roma]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=PROGRAMMA |url=https://www.natalidiroma.it/programma |access-date=2024-05-04 |website=GRUPPO STORICO ROMANO |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-12 |title=Gruppo Storico Romano per il 2777esimo Natale di Roma |url=https://www.turismoroma.it/it/eventi/gruppo-storico-romano-il-2777esimo-natale-di-roma |access-date=2024-05-04 |website=Turismo Roma |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Natale di Roma all'ETRU |url=https://www.museoetru.it/natale-di-roma-alletru |access-date=2024-05-04 |website=www.museoetru.it |language=it}}</ref>

{{multiple image|perrow = 2|total_width=300
| image1 = 
Celebrazione del 2777 Natale di Roma - Pietas Comunità Gentile 2.jpg
| image2 = 
Ritual of the summer solstice - 2023 YSEE & Pietas Comunità Gentile.jpg
| image3 =
Congresso Europeo delle Religioni Etniche (ECER) 2023.jpg
| image4 = 
Rituale Mitraico nel mitraeo di Sutri - Pietas Comunità Gentile.jpg
| footer = Clockwise from upper left: rite to the tutelary Gods of Rome during [[Natale di Roma]], rite of the [[Summer solstice|Summer solstice]] to Apollo in Greece with the participation of YSEE, Mithraic rite in the [[Mithraeum|Mithrareum]] of [[Sutri]], signing of the Riga Declaration.
}}

In 2024, Pietas, along with the [[Hellenism (modern religion)|Hellenic]] groups Thyrsus and [[Supreme Council of Ethnic Hellenes|YSEE]], became part of the Mediterraneum association to defend and promote the ethnic religions of the [[Mediterranean basin|Mediterranean Basin]].<ref>Mediterraneum – Human Rights Agency. Mediterraneum – Human Rights Agency. Available at: https://www.mediterraneum-hra.org/.</ref>

Pietas Comunità Gentile actively contributes to the contemporary continuity of ancient mystery cults through initiatives such as the Dionisiache, held in the cloister of the former Convent of the Reformed Fathers in [[Pulsano]], in collaboration with local institutions and the Pulsano Archaeological Museum. The event, dedicated to [[Artemis]] and [[Dionysus]], offered a symbolic and ritual reinterpretation of [[Roman religion]], featuring elements inspired by initiatory practices—such as shamanic drumming, sacred chants, and nocturnal rites under the moon. As a national and international organization, Pietas has also constructed two active temples in the Ionian region dedicated to [[Apollo]] and [[Minerva]], promoting a concrete revival of cultus deorum and its esoteric archetypes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://edicola.lagazzettadelmezzogiorno.it/gazzettadelmezzogiorno/pageflip/swipe/bari/20250510bari |title=Pulsano, i culti misterici sotto la luna – Dionisiache |website=La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno |access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[European Congress of Ethnic Religions]]
* [[Modern paganism]]
* [[Natale di Roma]]
* [[Neopaganism in Italy]]
* [[Reconstructionist Roman religion]]

== References ==

{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==

* Barbera, Giuseppe, ''Pietas: An Introduction to Roman Traditionalism'', Mythology Corner, 2 June 2021, ISBN 978-0981759616.
* Barbera, Giuseppe, ''Aspetti Esoterici nella Tradizione Romana'', Editore Elio Ermete, 29 aprile 2017. Lingua: Italiano, Copertina flessibile, 128 pagine, ISBN 8826425434, ISBN 978-8826425436.
* Castagnetto, A.M. and Palmisano, S. (2021) ''Beyond monotheism. Topics, groups and political interpretations of neo-paganism in Italy'', Polis (Bologna, Italy), 36(3), pp.&nbsp;413-. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1424/102289

== External links ==

* {{official website|tradizioneromana.org}}

[[Category:Traditionalist School]]
[[Category:Culture of Italy]]
[[Category:Magical organizations]]
[[Category:Modern paganism in Italy]]
[[Category:Western esotericism]]
[[Category:Greco-Roman mysteries| ]]

{{Neopaganism}}
{{Religion in Italy}}
{{Pagan studies}}
{{Paganism}}
{{Religion topics}}
{{New religious movements}}
{{Roman religion}}