Related Papers
The Catholic Church and International Relations
Jodok Troy
The Catholic Church is the oldest and largest trans-governmental organization in the world and particular Pope Francis’ reign reveal some interesting puzzles for International Relations. Nevertheless, in social sciences it remains an underestimated and unexplored actor. As in terms of social theory, particularly in International Relations, it is hard to grasp “the” Church (e.g. body of believers, norm entrepreneur, state of the Vatican City, Holy See etc.) This article places the Catholic Church and its activities in international politics in a theoretical framework of International Relations. In doing so, it puts forward observations that help students of world politics understand and, consequently, explain this multifaceted actor beyond a mere description. Displaying first the different levels of analysis leads to approaching the Catholic Church from different theoretical angles. In doing so, the article provides an understanding of the Church on the individual (its members and their agency), unit (the institution), and international level (the Holy See participating in the international system and society).
Unnited States Recognition Policy: The State of Vatican City
1981 •
Samuel W Bettwy
Obiter
The Status and Position of the Vatican and the Pope at International Law: Trying to Fit a Religious Square Peg Into a Legal Circle?
2021 •
Sipho Nkosi
New Perspectives in Researching the Vatican's Eastern Policy
András Fejérdy
The Vatican and the Reshaping of the European International Order, The Historical Journal, Dec 2013
Giuliana Chamedes
The Review of Faith & International Affairs
Introduction: Popes on the Rise
2017 •
Mariano Barbato
Journal of International Communication
The Catholic Church as a Public Diplomacy Actor: An Analysis of the Pope’s Strategic Narrative and International Engagement
2018 •
Phillip Arceneaux
While religion is often considered a cultural element of soft power, religious institutions are rarely studied as diplomatic actors. The purpose of this study was to better understand the manner in with the Catholic Church attempts to build relationships with foreign audiences, a key function of public diplomacy. Emphasising the role of Pope Francis as an iconic world leader, this study employed a qualitative textual analysis to determine what themes are selected and emphasised in papal speeches in order to construct the strategic narrative of the Catholic Church. Results suggest that Pope Francis’ speeches rely most on narratives of universal identity and values, shared responsibility, and calls to action to present the Catholic Church more favourably in the eyes of both Catholic and non-Catholic audiences around the world. These findings contribute to the study of public diplomacy, the concept of strategic narrative, and the theoretical framework of framing.
The diplomacy of the Holy See: a micro-state that keeps pace with great powers
Arthur Favereaux
Pope Francis is, as Saint Peter’s 265th successor, the inheritor of a long tradition of papal diplomacy that has dealt for centuries with the most influential figures in the world and therefore shaped international affairs. This Vatican diplomacy has evolved along time to remain at the center of international relations, and so did its tools : annulments of marriage and excommunications that once mainly constituted the Pope’s international leverage seems to have been replaced nowadays by speeches broadcasted on television worldwide and tweets. Yet, the essence of the Holy See’s endeavor has remained largely unchanged, especially in the post-1870 era: a powerful diplomacy of appeal and persuasion rather than coercion, or to recall Joseph Nye’s words, a "soft power" diplomacy. What are then the characteristics of the Holy See’s diplomacy that allows it, while being in many respects atypical as a legacy of a millennial tradition, to answer perfectly to the contemporary diplomatic dynamics and to keep pace with the great powers of the XXIst century ? This study will consist in analyzing the exceptional multi-level diplomatic network that the Holy See has at its disposal and in considering the different axes that constitute its diplomacy, namely bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, as well as a strong orientation toward arbitration and conciliation, and the demonstration of a papal "soft power" through the practice of an influent public diplomacy. Finally, this paper will pay a special attention to the Holy See’s contemporary diplomacy, to its new messages and claims.
KAS International Reports
Microstate and Superpower - The Vatican in International Politics
2015 •
Christian E Rieck
ANL 77 - The Geopolitics of Pope Francis
Francis's Idiosyncratic Approach to Vatican Geopolitics - An Introduction
2020 •
Jan De Volder
