The Catholic Electoral Union was formed in 1906 after the suppression of the Opera dei Congressi ("Work of the Congress") following the encyclical Il fermo proposito of Pope Pius X.
The Gentiloni pact of 1913 brought many new Catholic voters into politics, where they supported the Liberal Union of Prime Minister Giovanni Giolitti.
By the terms of the pact, the Union directed Catholic voters to Giolitti supporters who agreed to favor the Church's position on such key issues as funding private Catholic schools, and blocking a law allowing divorce.
[3] The Italian Socialist Party gained votes (from 19% to 23% of the voters) while the liberals were strengthened in the short run.
Eventually, Giolitti was forced to resign by his anti-clerical allies in March 1914, and was replaced as prime minister by Antonio Salandra on appointment of the King.