Vatican diplomacy

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The front of the Phat Diem Cathedral, Vietnam.

11 Vietnamese Christians missing from detention amid religious freedom concerns

Jul 10, 2024

By AC Wimmer

A report released July 5 claims the missing individuals were sentenced between 2011 and 2016 to a combined total of... Read more

Eli Cohen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, addresses the Globsec regional security forum in Bratislava, Slovakia on May 30, 2023. (

Israel’s foreign minister criticizes Vatican response to Hamas attack

Oct 16, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen spoke Oct. 15 with the Holy See’s foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, about the situation... Read more

Catholics hold Chinese flags at Pope Francis' Mass in Mongolia's Steppe Arena in Ulaanbaatar on Sept. 4, 2023.

Catholics from mainland China and across Asia in Mongolia for Mass with Pope Francis

Sep 3, 2023

By Courtney Mares, Rachel Thomas

While papal Masses on the pope’s other trips can draw hundreds of thousands of people, the Mass in Ulaanbaatar only... Read more

Mongolia is a democratic country sandwiched between the authoritarian powers of Russia and China.

What Pope Francis’ trip to Mongolia could mean for Vatican relations with Russia and China

Aug 27, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The pope’s upcoming trip could have geopolitical implications beyond the country’s small population of Catholics. Read more

Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna, during a consistory Oct. 5, 2019.

Cardinal Zuppi to go to Moscow this week as Pope Francis’ peace envoy

Jun 27, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Zuppi will arrive in Russia’s capital less than one week after a paramilitary organization known as the Wagner Group rebelled... Read more

The faithful in Nicaragua participate in a pilgrimage in support of the bishops, July 28, 2018.

Report: Nicaragua to close Vatican embassy in Managua, Nicaraguan embassy to Holy See

Mar 13, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The request to close the two embassies follows just days after Pope Francis likened Nicaragua’s Sandinista government to Nazi Germany. Read more

Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Holy See Permanent Observer to the United Nations (left), and Mohammed Al-Hassan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations, at a signing ceremony establishing diplomatic relations between Oman and the Holy See. The ceremony took place  at the Permanent Mission of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations in New York City.

Holy See and the Sultanate of Oman establish diplomatic ties

Feb 23, 2023

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The move leaves only six countries worldwide without any diplomatic connection to the Vatican. Read more

Pope Francis addresses international diplomats to the Holy See on Jan. 9, 2023, in the Vatican's Blessing Hall.

To counter ‘third world war,’ Pope Francis proposes ‘truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom’

Jan 9, 2023

By Jonathan Liedl

Pope Francis Monday gave his annual address to Vatican diplomats, describing the speech as “a call for peace in a... Read more

Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti with Pope Francis

Analysis: What is behind Pope Francis’ appointment of the new prefect for the Eastern Churches?

Nov 22, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

For the role of prefect of the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches, Pope Francis has chosen Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, who... Read more

The episcopal consecration of Francis Cui Qingqi in Wuhan, China, Sept. 8, 2021.

U.S. religious freedom commission ‘tremendously disappointed’ with Vatican-China deal renewal

Oct 26, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

A member of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom says it is “tremendously disappointed” with the Vatican’s decision.  Read more

Pilgrims wave a Chinese flag at the general audience with Pope Francis, Oct. 12, 2022.

Vatican renews China deal for second time

Oct 22, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

The terms of the deal, first signed in 2018, have not been made public. Read more

Archbishop Paul Gallagher in 2018.

Archbishop Paul Gallagher to represent Pope Francis at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral

Sep 16, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

Pope Francis’ representative at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II will be veteran Vatican diplomat Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Holy... Read more

President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping during the G20 summit in Hangzhou, China.

Report: Pope Francis sought to meet with Xi Jinping, but China declined

Sep 16, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

Pope Francis expressed his “availability” to meet with Chinese president Xi Jinping while both men were in Kazakhstan this week,... Read more

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The geopolitics of Pope Francis’ trip to Kazakhstan

Sep 12, 2022

By Courtney Mares

This week Pope Francis is traveling to Kazakhstan, a Muslim-majority country sandwiched between Russia and China. Read more

Pope Francis meets with members of the AVSI Foundation for the 'Open Hospitals' Project in Syria at the Vatican's Clementine Hall, Sept. 3, 2022.

'Hope is dying' in Syria, nuncio says

Sep 3, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis’ representative in Syria has said people are losing hope as the Syrian civil war continues and widespread poverty... Read more

Charles de Foucauld

Pope Francis to future Vatican diplomats: See St Charles de Foucauld as model

Jun 9, 2022

By CNA Staff

The pope was speaking to members of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy. Read more

Pope Francis attends the funeral Mass of Cardinal Angelo Sodano in St. Peter’s Basilica, May 31, 2022.

With Cardinal Sodano’s death, an era has come to a close

Jun 1, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

At his peak, the Italian cardinal was arguably the Vatican’s most influential personality. Read more

Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki.

Polish bishops’ leader: Vatican’s approach to Russia ‘naive and utopian’

May 24, 2022

By Luke Coppen

Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki made the remark after a May 17-20 visit to Ukraine. Read more

Archbishop Paul Gallagher meets with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv on May 20.

Vatican foreign minister meets Ukrainian counterpart in Kyiv

May 20, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Archbishop Paul Gallagher prayed at a former mass grave site in Bucha during his Ukraine visit. Read more

St. John Paul II (1920-2005).

George Weigel on what the Vatican can learn from JPII’s diplomacy with Russia

May 19, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The papal biographer said the Vatican ought to realize that ‘appeasement of communist regimes never works.’ Read more