“I Am a Woman, I Am a Mother, I Am Italian, I Am Christian”: Religious Polarization in the Discourses of Contemporary Far-Right Politics

European politics is witnessing a growth in populist and far-right leadership. For example, in September 2022, Italy elected Giorgia Meloni as Prime Minister, leader of the far-right party Brothers of Italy. The progressive extremization of politics results in polarized debates on topics such as abortion, reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights. In this context, religion has often a central role: hence, farright leaders tend to employ Christianity—and Catholicism in particular—to narratively construct a type of national identity based on religious affiliation. Meloni, for instance, reiterated her Christian identity throughout her electoral campaign, and employs it to justify her political decisions in favor of traditional and heteronormative families. By discussing the use of religion—often in implicit and culturalized forms—by far-right political leaders, this chapter analyzes how religious polarization functions in post-secular societies. The chapter starts by critically assessing the term “secular” and “post-secular”, arguing that the discursive use of religion has never fully disappeared from certain political debates. Second, it discusses political polarization and political antagonism, explaining how the term “secular” may become, for some political actors, a buzzword that indicates a negative set of values. Third, it describes how social media and new technologies contribute to religious polarization by offering new venues for emotional discussions. In conclusion, the chapter anal