Italy is not a continuation of Rome in any sense except geographical. Italians don't see themselves as Romans. The Catholic Church isn't a uniquely Roman or even Italian thing either. It transcends national borders. And I'm not talking about Israel, I'm talking about the Jewish people. The Jewish people not only have their religion, but identify with the Jews at Masada infinitely more than even the most die hard Italian Romaboo could ever identify with the legions at Teutorburg Forest. And to do with language. The argument that Italy has a greater linguistic connection to Latin than Jews do to Hebrew is also false. Yiddish and Ladino both are in part an evolution of Hebrew. Not only that, but Hebrew has indeed been resurrected while Latin has not.