House of Savoy to decide between retaining the monarchy or becoming a republic. On 9 May 1946, in a last-ditch attempt to save the monarchy, Victor Emmanuel formally abdicated in favour of his son, who became Umberto II. It did not work; the Italian constitutional referendum, 1946 was won by republicans with 54% of the vote. Victor Emmanuel went into exile in Egypt, dying there a year later. On 12 June 1946, the Kingdom of Italy formally came to an end as Umberto transferred his powers to Prime Minister Alcide de Gasperi and called for the Italian people to support the new republic.
Cathedral of Christ the King (Lexington, Kentucky) May 12, 1946. Parish functions were held in a pre-fabricated structure. Christ the King School was opened in 1951 and the Sisters of Divine Providence formed the initial faculty. The present church and rectory was built in the Modern and art deco architectural styles from 1965 to 1967 for $1.5 million. On January 14, 1988 Pope John Paul II established the Diocese of Lexington, and Christ the King became the cathedral for the new diocese. The Cathedral Center was added to the parish facilities in 1992. Cathedral of Christ the King (Lexington, Kentucky) The Cathedral of Christ the King is