Holy See diplomacy

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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

Pope Francis sits quietly during a meeting with students at the Portuguese Catholic University in Lisbon, Portugal, on Aug. 3, 2023.

Pope Francis confirms Vatican envoy’s visit to China in wide-ranging interview

Aug 4, 2023

By Jonathan Liedl

The pope also addressed “rigidity” in the Church and concerns about the Synod on Synodality. Read more

Vietnam’s President Vo Van Thuong meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican on July 27, 2023.

Vatican, Vietnam announce agreement on permanent papal representative

Jul 28, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

The announcement came Thursday during the visit of Vietnam’s President Vo Van Thuong to the Vatican. Read more

Pope Francis greets Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, whom he appointed as the Holy See’s permanent observer to the United Nations in Geneva on June 21, 2023.

Pope Francis appoints new permanent observer to the UN in Geneva

Jun 21, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Archbishop Ettore Balestrero most recently served as the apostolic nuncio to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Read more

Metropolitan Anthony, chairman for external church relations of the Russian Orthodox Church, greets Pope Francis after his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square on May 3, 2023.

Pope Francis greets Russian Orthodox metropolitan after audience

May 3, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The brief encounter in St. Peter’s Square with Metropolitan Anthony took place days after the pope said secret peace talks... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in Havana, Cuba. on Feb. 12, 2016.

Pope Francis as diplomat: the principles that have guided his 10-year-old pontificate

Mar 12, 2023

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The Holy Father’s approach to diplomacy is laid out in “The Joy of the Gospel.” 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

Pope Francis meets with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in Havana, Cuba. on Feb. 12, 2016.

Will Pope Francis and Russian Patriarch Kirill finally meet in this tiny European country?

Oct 14, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The prime minister of Montenegro proposed that an eventual meeting between Pope Francis and the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill could... Read more

Pope Francis meeting his diplomatic representatives in the Vatican, Sept. 9, 2022.

Pope Francis shares his concern about nuclear war risks in meeting with Vatican diplomats

Sep 8, 2022

By AC Wimmer

The pope spoke to almost 100 apostolic nuncios and permanent observers of the Holy See who are meeting in Rome... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the Vatican on May 29, 2017.

Pope Francis in Canada: A papal pilgrimage for healing and reconciliation

Jul 23, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The 37th Apostolic Journey of Pope Francis, which will take him to Canada from July 24-30, is a "penitential pilgrimage”... 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

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

Cardinal Pietro Parolin in Salerno, Italy, on Oct. 13, 2019.

Cardinal Parolin discusses the future of Vatican diplomacy

Apr 19, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

In the final part of an exclusive interview, the Vatican Secretary of State discusses threats to religious freedom. Read more

Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, the apostolic nuncio to Ukraine.

Why the pope’s representative in Kyiv is fighting ‘fake news’

Apr 13, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The nunciature denied claims that Vladimir Putin has accounts at the ‘Vatican bank.’ Read more

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin talks to EWTN Vatican correspondent Colm Flynn on March 19, 2022.

Cardinal Parolin: Ukraine has the right to defend itself, but arms shipments could cause ‘terrible’ escalation

Apr 7, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, discussed the Holy See's diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting in Ukraine... Read more

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin talks to EWTN Vatican correspondent Colm Flynn on March 19, 2022.

Cardinal Parolin urges negotiation to find a ‘win-win solution’ to war in Ukraine

Mar 22, 2022

By Courtney Mares

‘The message of the Holy See, of the Holy Father, is to stop the war,’ the Vatican Secretary of State... Read more

Pope Francis and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

In new phone call, Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy tells Pope Francis he would welcome Vatican mediation

Mar 22, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Ukrainian president said he told the pope about ‘the blocking of rescue corridors by Russian troops.’ Read more

Daniel Ortega celebrates his re-inauguration as president of Nicaragua, Jan. 10, 2012.

Nicaragua government expels Vatican diplomat

Mar 12, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Vatican called the decision an “unjustified unilateral measure.” Read more

Pope Francis delivers his Angelus address on March 6, 2022.

How Pope Francis’ tone on the Ukraine war has shifted

Mar 8, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The pope’s words at the Angelus marked a subtle but important change. Read more

St. George Maronite cathedral beside the Mohammad Al-Amin mosque in Beirut, the Lebanese capital.

Vatican foreign minister visits Lebanon, still suffering from financial and political crises

Feb 5, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

The five-day visit marked 75 years of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Lebanon. Read more