International Relations - Vatican

The activities of the Church touch every country and every aspect of human life. As the oldest continuing international organization in the world today, the Vatican has a long diplomatic tradition. By having a large network of over one hundred Apostolic Nunciatures across the world, the Vatican maintain relations, not only with governments, as is the case with all embassies, but with the Catholic Church in almost every country. This gives it a particular advantage of a vast network of like minded sources, especially in countries where the press and people are effectively muzzled by the regime.

Due to the international network provided by some 4,000 bishops, the Vatican is well aware of what is going on in most of the world. Each of these bishops has a network of priests, religious and lay people through which it keeps informed on micro- and macro-political developments. These Bishops keep the Roman Curia informed, come to Rome periodically, and every five years must come to the Vatican for meetings in national or regional groupings with the Pope and the Curia. In addition, most communities of missionaries (both male and female orders) have offices in Rome, offering another source of information and views, both for the Curia and for enquiring diplomate missions

The Vatican can be seen as a coordinating secretariat for a far flung multinational organization. The Vatican also has permanent observe status on most international bodies, for example, the United Nations and its various agencies. On the international frames, as with individual countries, the Vatican makes use of moral suasion to attempt to resolve the great international conflicts or to pursue the objectives of its social doctrines through the world. Whenever particular with regard to individual countries, it leaves the initiative to the national conference of bishops, which is considered better placed to carry forward the interest of Catholics int heir own countries.

The Holy See is known for using its status of moral and spiritual leadership to intervene publicly its repeated denunciations on conflicts such as the Persian Gulf war, Iraq, Rwanda, the Serbian ethnic cleansing, Kosovo and the on-going Israeli-Palestine crisis.

Undoubtably, the key international development during the Pontificate of John Paul II pontificate was the collapse of Communism in eastern Europe.However, he has followed a number of multinational issues closely. The Vatican in this pontificate was particularly helpful to Canada in securing international support for the Convention on Landmines. It threw all of its moral wight behind the campain to have countries sign up and ratify the Convention.

Another important theme for the Pope is disarmament. He has argued that the balance of armaments could never be a secure basis for peace. The Holy Father has made himself the major spokesman of peace. It was clearly seen following the aftermath of September 11th, 2001 when he called a major prayer meeting for Peace in Assisi on January 24th. More than 200 religious leaders including imams, patriarchs, rabbis, priests and cardinals joined John Paul II for a day of prayer for peace following the events of September 11th, 2001. Earlier, the Pope had held a day long prayer in 1986 against nuclear war and in 1993 a rally for peace in the Balkans.

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