The 20th Century

Relations between the two religions improved due to the workings of Switzerland’s federal democracy. This can be noted especially after Vatican II (1965), because ecumenism could then really blossom, a development which helped to ease a lot of the opposition between them.

Under the banner of the neutrality imposed on it by Europe in 1815, Switzerland was relatively spared from the two World Wars. It would put its Red Cross (founded in 1864 by Henri Dunant) to the service of refugees and prisoners. Recent history showed, however, that Switzerland was not as generous as it could have been during the war (cf. the Bergier Report).

From the 50’s, Switzerland became a popular choice for immigration whereas until then, it was mostly the Swiss that emigrated. As a result of these migratory movements coming mainly from the South during the 70’s, Catholicism is today the principal religion in Switzerland. During the 60s, 70s and 80s (and sometimes even earlier), Switzerland witnessed the arrival of other waves of immigrants - Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists. And thus a change in Switzerland’s religious landscape began, testifying to a larger and unending religious pluralisation. At the same time, the traditional Swiss Churches had to deal with declining Church attendance, dying traditional beliefs and fading religious identity, as well as a massive disaffiliation trend.