KATREBOVÁ BLEHOVÁ, Beáta: Slovak Catholic exile in Italy and Czechoslovak State Security during the first two decades of the Cold War

Italy and especially Rome had become after the end of World War II one of the most important centers for the Slovak dias pora for many reasons. One of the reason was the late pontificate of Pope Pius XII. with its clear anti-communist orientation and the immense charitable and pastoral work which included also the assistance for the large number of the post-war refugees. The first organizations of the Slovak diaspora were founded in Rome, as well as organizations with significant participation of prominent Slovak exiles. They offered a wide range of activities, from charitable assistance to refugees, care for Catholic missions, publishing and scientific activities, education and activities aimed at anti-communist strate gies and communicating information about the difficult situation of the Catholic Church and Catholics behind the Iron Curtain. For the Czechoslovak State security, which perceived the Slovak diaspora in general through the double prism of an ideological enemy, both because of its radical anticommunism and the programme of the independence of Slovakia, the activities of the Slovak Catholic diaspora constituted a particular danger. With the help of a dense network of agents and secret collaborators, it observed its activities and targeted them through various state security operations. The paper presents the results of the basic research of the relationship between the Czechoslovak State Security and Slovak Catholic Diaspora including the role of the Czechoslovak Intelligence and the Intelligence station in Rome.