Chapter V
Loreto, a Bulwark of Christian Europe against Islam Among the innumerable historical facts related to it, the sanctuary of Loreto played a vital role in the struggle of Christianity against Islamic aggression. When facing attacks from the Muslim world, Catholic peoples invoked the Virgin of Loreto to protect the Papacy, the Catholic Church, and European Christian identity in general. To have an idea of the importance of Loreto, suffice it to mention two momentous events, decisive for the history of relations between our continent and Islam: the battles of Lepanto and Vienna.
5.1 The Battle of Lepanto (1571) The battle of Lepanto held back Turkish expansionism towards the West. In addition to the heroism of those who fought and shed their blood, the Christian armies won the victory due to an intervention of Our Lady, invoked precisely as Virgo Lauretana. It is no coincidence, therefore, that at the end of the naval conflict, some war trophies were donated to the sanctuary, such as flags, banners, and weapons taken from the Turkish enemy. If the Christians had been defeated, Islam would have spread to Europe and taken possession of our lands, subjugating us by imposing its religion and political domination.
