Vatican diplomacy

The Latest

St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Jan. 25, 2015.

Vatican should speak up on China, scholar says

Mar 22, 2021

A Swedish scholar who studies China has called for the Vatican to speak up about human rights abuses by the... Read more

Vatican diplomat: The empowerment of women will contribute to peace and security

Feb 15, 2021

By Courtney Mares

A Vatican diplomat said Monday that the advancement of more women in leadership positions in public life will contribute to... Read more

A young girl lights a candle at a Marian grotto in Pakistan.

Vatican diplomat highlights growing religious intolerance

Jan 14, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

A Vatican diplomat highlighted Thursday the “ever-growing intolerance and discrimination against Christians, Jews, Muslims and members of other religions.”  Read more

Venerable Pius XII

Book gives more insight into the actions of Pius XII and his 'bureau' during WWII

Jan 7, 2021

By Andrea Gagliarducci

A new book provides further information from the archives of Venerable Pius XII, including the Vatican’s attempts to oppose the... Read more

rchbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz of Minsk-Mohilev prays outside the Akrestsin Street pre-trial detention center in Minsk, Aug. 19, 2020. Credit: Catholic.by.

Exiled Belarusian archbishop will be allowed to return for Christmas

Dec 23, 2020

Belarusian authorities announced Tuesday that Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz of Minsk-Mohilev, who was exiled in August, will be permitted to return... Read more

Cardinal Mario Zenari in St. Peter's Basilica on Nov. 19, 2016.

Cardinal tells diplomats: 11 million Syrians need humanitarian aid

Oct 15, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The apostolic nuncio to Syria met with diplomats accredited to the Vatican Thursday to inform them that an estimated 11... Read more

Police use a water cannon truck to disperse demonstrators during a rally to protest against the Belarus presidential election results in Minsk, Oct. 11, 2020.

New apostolic nuncio arrives in Belarus

Oct 12, 2020

Archbishop Ante Jozić, who was appointed apostolic nuncio to Belarus earlier this year, arrived in the country Sunday, being met... Read more

Archbishop Charles Brown, apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, at a reception following his episcopal consecration in January 2012.

Archbishop Charles Brown appointed nuncio to the Philippines

Sep 28, 2020

Pope Francis on Monday appointed Archbishop Charles Brown as apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, a position which had been vacant... Read more

Apostolic nuncio to Belarus consecrated a bishop

Sep 16, 2020

The Vatican Secretary of State on Wednesday consecrated as a bishop Ante Jozić, who was appointed apostolic nuncio to Belarus... Read more

 The Vatican flag flies over St. Peter's Square, April 26, 2014.

Pope Francis accepts resignation of former nuncio to Chile

Jul 31, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis Friday accepted the resignation of Vatican diplomat Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto as an apostolic nuncio.  Read more

A bishop surveys the construction of a separation wall in Palestine's Cremisan Valley, Jan. 17, 2017.

Vatican tells Israel, US that annexation could jeopardize peace process

Jul 2, 2020

Ahead of possible Israeli action to annex Palestinian territories, Holy See Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin met with the... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong, speaks at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, Nov. 18, 2014.

Cardinal Zen invites Cardinal Re to show claimed China documents from Vatican archive

Mar 2, 2020

Cardinal Zen on Sunday responded to the claim of the Dean of the College of Cardinals that Benedict XVI had... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun departs the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, Nov. 18, 2014.

Cardinal Re claims Cardinal Zen is at odds with John Paul II, Benedict XVI on China

Feb 29, 2020

The newly-appointed Dean of the College of Cardinals purportedly sent a letter to cardinals Wednesday claiming that the China-Vatican deal... Read more

Iranians gather around the caskets of Qasem Soleimani and others during a funeral procession after the bodies arrived in Qom, Jan. 6, 2020.

Iranian nuncio appeals for negotiation, not revenge

Jan 7, 2020

By Courtney Mares

As tensions escalate between Iran and the United States following the killing of Qasem Soleimani, the pope’s diplomat in Tehran... Read more

Cardinal Pietro Parolin gives an intervention during a panel discussion hosted by Hungary at the UN General Assembly in NYC, Sept. 27, 2019.

At UN, Holy See requests increased aid for Middle Eastern Christians

Sep 28, 2019

As displaced Christians return to their homes in the Middle East, the Vatican Secretary of State encouraged U.N. representatives Friday... Read more

Vatican Secretary of State marks 25 years of diplomatic relations with Israel

Jun 14, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin marked the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Israel... Read more

Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of Propaganda Fide (L).

Cardinals spar in responses to Vatican-China deal

Mar 8, 2019

By Courtney Mares

After Cardinal Fernando Filoni and a Chinese-appointed bishop both spoke out this week separately in support of the Vatican-China deal... Read more

Archbishop Luigi Ventura, then-Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, speaks at a Mass and Concert held in Ottawa, April 2, 2009.

French European minister calls on Holy See to revoke nuncio's diplomatic immunity

Mar 4, 2019

France's European affairs minister encouraged the Holy See last week to aid in an investigation of the apostolic nuncio to... Read more

Members of a Venezuelan delegation sent by Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido to meet with Italy's Interior Minister pose in Rome, Feb. 11, 2019.

Holy See receives Venezuelan opposition delegation

Feb 11, 2019

By Courtney Mares

The Vatican Secretariat of State received Monday a delegation from Venezuela affiliated with opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has been... Read more

Pope Francis addresses members of the diplomatic corps ac

Pope to diplomats: Remember transcendent dimension of human persons

Jan 7, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

Upholding the dignity of the human person, and the rule of law, are essential for good politics, Pope Francis said... Read more