National Anthem Comparison
Italy vs Vatican City
1
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
22
22 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Italy and Vatican City, both Europe nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Italy's "The Song of the Italians" was written in 1847, while Vatican City's "Pontifical Anthem and March" dates to 1869.
Both anthems share themes of god / faith. Italy additionally explores unity, battle / war, ancestors / heritage and freedom, while Vatican City also touches on hope, peace and love of homeland.
The emotional tones differ: Italy's anthem is fierce, while Vatican City's is majestic.
Vatican City changed its national anthem in 1949, reflecting a shift in the nation's identity or political landscape.
Shared themes
Italy
🤝 Unity ⚔ Battle / War 🏺 Ancestors / Heritage 🕊 Freedom ✝ God / Faith
Vatican City
✝ God / Faith 🌅 Hope ☮ Peace ❤ Love of homeland
Shared themes:
✝ God / Faith
Metadata
| Italy | Vatican City | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1847 | 1869 |
| Adopted | 1946 | 1949 |
| Lyricist | Goffredo Mameli | Antonio Allegra (Italian text, 1949); Latin text by Raffaello Lavagna (1991) |
| Composer | Michele Novaro | Charles Gounod |
| Language | it | it |
| Region | Southern Europe | Southern Europe |
Lyrics Side by Side
Italy
Il Canto degli Italiani
Original
Fratelli d'Italia,
l'Italia s'è desta,
dell'elmo di Scipio
s'è cinta la testa.
Dov'è la Vittoria?
Le porga la chioma,
ché schiava di Roma
Iddio la creò.
[Chorus]
Stringiamci a coorte,
siam pronti alla morte,
siam pronti alla morte,
l'Italia chiamò.
Stringiamci a coorte,
siam pronti alla morte,
siam pronti alla morte,
l'Italia chiamò! Sì!
Noi siamo da secoli
calpesti, derisi,
perché non siam popolo,
perché siam divisi.
Raccolgaci un'unica
bandiera, una speme:
di fonderci insieme
già l'ora suonò.
[Chorus]
Uniamoci, amiamoci,
l'unione e l'amore
rivelano ai popoli
le vie del Signore.
Giuriamo far libero
il suolo natio:
uniti, per Dio,
chi vincer ci può?
[Chorus]
Dall'Alpi a Sicilia
dovunque è Legnano,
ogn'uom di Ferruccio
ha il core, ha la mano,
i bimbi d'Italia
si chiaman Balilla,
il suon d'ogni squilla
i Vespri suonò.
[Chorus]
Translation
Brothers of Italy,
Italy has awakened,
with Scipio's helmet
she has bound her head.
Where is Victory?
Let her bow down,
for God made her
a slave of Rome.
[Chorus]
Let us unite in a cohort,
we are ready to die,
we are ready to die,
Italy has called.
Let us unite in a cohort,
we are ready to die,
we are ready to die,
Italy has called! Yes!
For centuries we have been
trampled upon, mocked,
because we are not one people,
because we are divided.
Let one flag, one hope
gather us all:
the hour has struck
for us to unite.
[Chorus]
Let us unite, let us love one another,
for union and love
reveal to the peoples
the ways of the Lord.
Let us swear to set free
our native land:
united, by God,
who can defeat us?
[Chorus]
From the Alps to Sicily
everywhere is Legnano,
every man has the heart
and hand of Ferruccio,
the children of Italy
are called Balilla,
every church bell tolled
the Vespers.
[Chorus]
Vatican City
Inno e Marcia Pontificale
Original
Roma immortale di Martiri e di Santi,
Roma immortale accogli i nostri canti:
Gloria nei cieli a Dio nostro Signore,
Pace ai Fedeli, di Cristo nell'amore.
A Te veniamo, Angelico Pastore,
In Te vediamo il mite Redentore,
Erede Santo di vera e santa Fede;
Conforto e vanto a chi combatte e crede,
Non prevarranno la forza ed il terrore,
Ma regneranno la Verità, l'Amore.
Translation
Immortal Rome of Martyrs and Saints,
Immortal Rome, receive our songs:
Glory in the heavens to God our Lord,
Peace to the Faithful, in the love of Christ.
To You we come, Angelic Shepherd,
In You we see the gentle Redeemer,
Holy heir of true and holy Faith;
Comfort and pride to those who fight and believe,
Neither force nor terror shall prevail,
But Truth and Love shall reign.
Interesting facts
Italy
- 1. Goffredo Mameli wrote the lyrics at age 20. He was wounded while defending the Roman Republic in 1849 and died of the infected wound on 6 July that year, aged 21
- 2. The anthem references Scipio Africanus, the Roman general who defeated Hannibal, as a symbol of Italian valor
- 3. It was only officially designated as the national anthem in 2017, after being used provisionally for over 70 years
Vatican City
- 1. The Holy See's own history of the anthem says that it 'cannot be called a national anthem': its words speak to everyone in the world who sees Rome as the see of Peter.
- 2. Pius XII chose Gounod's march on 16 October 1949. It was first played as the official anthem on Christmas Eve of that year, together with the march it replaced: the one by the Austrian bandmaster Vittorino Hallmayr, the official pontifical anthem since 1857.
- 3. A Latin text by Raffaello Lavagna was added in 1991, so the anthem is sung in Italian and in Latin, while the score itself remains Gounod's.
Listen
Italy
Vatican City
