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Three agreements signed on February 11, 1929 between Mussolini's Italian government and the Holy See (Vatican), negotiated by Pietro Gasparri and Mussolini's representative Domenico Barone. The pacts resolved the "Roman Question" that had existed since 1870 when Italian unification absorbed the Papal States. The agreements: (1) recognized the Vatican City as a sovereign state; (2) paid the Church 750 million lire in compensation; and (3) recognized Catholicism as Italy's state religion and gave the Church significant influence over education and marriage law. The pacts gave Mussolini domestic legitimacy and the tacit approval of the Catholic Church.

Italy's national Fascist youth organization, founded in 1926 and named after a legendary Genoese boy who struck a spark for revolution. It organized Italian boys from ages 8-18 into age-grouped sections (Figli della Lupa, Balilla, Avanguardisti) and girls into parallel groups (Piccole Italiane, Giovani Italiane). Activities combined physical training, paramilitary drill, and Fascist indoctrination. Membership became effectively compulsory for school-age children. In 1937 it was merged with other youth groups into the Gioventu Italiana del Littorio (GIL) under direct Fascist Party control.