Youth and Religion in Aosta Valley

The religiosity of the young is rapidly changing even in a relatively “small” and “protected” context such as the Valley of Aosta, the smallest Italian region, situated in a mountainous area at the foot of Mont Blanc. In this context, characterized by social and cultural belonging to traditional Catholicism up to not many decades ago, a survey has been conducted among some 4,000 adolescents between the ages of 14 and 19. Beside the aspects of belief, participation, and religious experience, other aspects were also investigated, especially the role of religion in a more and more pluralistic and globalized context. The results show how young people’s reference to Catholicism is being deeply modified, with a more personal and free approach to rites and beliefs, and with a new opening towards other religions. Such changes indicate a new modality of relating to the sacred, varying by age, sex, and educational level.