Vatican has important place in the world

From all appearances, the morning Bishop McDonald and I were awaiting our private audience with the pope was a typical one for the Papal Palace. A variety of workers — Swiss Guards, attendants and priests on the papal staff — were busy about their jobs. They welcomed visitors, explained Vatican protocol and prepared the pope for each meeting with essential background information.

The presence of one visitor in particular intrigued me: the prime minister of Portugal, José Manuel Durão Barroso. I know nothing about Portuguese politics and little about the country itself. I have no idea what agenda the prime minister brought to the Holy Father that day. Perhaps the purpose of his visit was spiritual. Perhaps it was political. Perhaps it was both. What struck me was that in the daily life of Vatican City and the Holy Father, the presence of a prime minister is a natural, ordinary occurrence. Church and government interact as a matter of course.

Vatican City State encompasses only 109 acres and has a resident population of less than 800, yet it maintains diplomatic relations with 174 countries and other entities such as the European Union, and special relations with groups such as the Russian Federation and the Organization for the Liberation of Palestine.

Vatican City State is a recognized national territory under international law, enters into international agreements and receives and sends diplomats to countries around the world. Cardinal Angelo Sodano has been secretary of state since 1991 and oversees a large pool of papal legates charged with representing the pope in various nations and regions. When the legation is only to the Church in a certain country, the papal representative is called the apostolic delegate. When the Vatican has formal diplomatic relations with a country, the papal representative is known as the apostolic nuncio and has the rank of ambassador; he also serves as representative to the local Church.

The United States did not have formal diplomatic relations with the Vatican until 1984. The first U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, William A. Wilson, was appointed by President Reagan. The current ambassador, James Nicholson, was appointed by President Bush. Prior to 1984, the pope’s representative to the United States had been an apostolic delegate, but with the establishment of formal diplomatic relations, the Holy See now has a nuncio in our country; the current nuncio is Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo.

Why does the Holy See have apostolic delegates and nuncios? What purpose does it serve the Kingdom of God for the Vatican to have diplomatic relations with 174 countries? Does that not blur the separation of church and state?

Pope John Paul II is pastor of more than one billion Catholics. Imagine the army needed to accomplish that task — clergy, religious and laity. Nuncios and apostolic delegates play a special role in assuring that ties between the Holy See and local churches remain strong. They keep the pope informed about Church conditions around the world, which vary dramatically from place to place. They also play an important role in the appointment of bishops and in ecumenical relations.
As the Church is to proclaim the Gospel in every circumstance, papal representatives also keep the pope apprised of the societal and social state of affairs that determines the shape of the local Church’s mission as well as the situations, which help and hinder that mission. In some parts of the world that is a delicate, even dangerous, task.

Since nuncios are also ambassadors, they are responsible for promoting relationships between the Holy See and governments. This is important for several reasons. On the one hand, nuncios work to ensure that the local churches have freedom to function as they see fit, freedom to proclaim the Gospel, freedom to live in peace. On the other hand, nuncios also promote human dignity for all people (especially the most vulnerable) and offer moral guidance to world affairs, consistent with the truth revealed by God. For one who takes Christian faith seriously, presenting God’s truth to nations and governments is not optional.

No one can doubt the importance of the Vatican’s presence on the world scene, particularly during the papacy of John Paul II. Formed by his deep Catholic faith, his Polish heritage and the dramatic events of 20th century Europe — and profoundly influential in events of the second half of the 20th century — he has demonstrated again and again that the Church has a crucial role on the world scene.

If we believe that the Gospel is the truth revealed by God, that the Church is Christ’s body sent to proclaim the Gospel, and that as the baptized we are part of his Body, then all of us have a similar role in our counties and communities. Not only are we to personally practice the truth as revealed by God; we are also to proclaim it and do what is in our power to ensure that society is guided by that truth.

In maintaining diplomatic relationships with 174 countries, the Holy See is fulfilling a critical aspect of the mission of the Church. The world and its people, created and redeemed by God, have a right to the Gospel proclaimed for their salvation. They have a right to live in a way that is consistent with their God-given dignity. Baptized into the death and resurrection of Christ, we have a responsibility to God and to the world.

Special to Arkansas Catholic

Latest from From the Bishop

Vatican has important place in the world

From all appearances, the morning Bishop McDonald and I were awaiting our private audience with the pope was a typical one for the Papal Palace. A variety of workers — Swiss Guards, attendants and priests on the papal staff — were busy about their jobs. They welcomed visitors, explained Vatican protocol and prepared the pope for each meeting with essential background information.

The presence of one visitor in particular intrigued me: the prime minister of Portugal, José Manuel Durão Barroso. I know nothing about Portuguese politics and little about the country itself. I have no idea what agenda the prime minister brought to the Holy Father that day. Perhaps the purpose of his visit was spiritual. Perhaps it was political. Perhaps it was both. What struck me was that in the daily life of Vatican City and the Holy Father, the presence of a prime minister is a natural, ordinary occurrence. Church and government interact as a matter of course.

Vatican City State encompasses only 109 acres and has a resident population of less than 800, yet it maintains diplomatic relations with 174 countries and other entities such as the European Union, and special relations with groups such as the Russian Federation and the Organization for the Liberation of Palestine.

Vatican City State is a recognized national territory under international law, enters into international agreements and receives and sends diplomats to countries around the world. Cardinal Angelo Sodano has been secretary of state since 1991 and oversees a large pool of papal legates charged with representing the pope in various nations and regions. When the legation is only to the Church in a certain country, the papal representative is called the apostolic delegate. When the Vatican has formal diplomatic relations with a country, the papal representative is known as the apostolic nuncio and has the rank of ambassador; he also serves as representative to the local Church.

The United States did not have formal diplomatic relations with the Vatican until 1984. The first U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, William A. Wilson, was appointed by President Reagan. The current ambassador, James Nicholson, was appointed by President Bush. Prior to 1984, the pope’s representative to the United States had been an apostolic delegate, but with the establishment of formal diplomatic relations, the Holy See now has a nuncio in our country; the current nuncio is Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo.

Why does the Holy See have apostolic delegates and nuncios? What purpose does it serve the Kingdom of God for the Vatican to have diplomatic relations with 174 countries? Does that not blur the separation of church and state?

Pope John Paul II is pastor of more than one billion Catholics. Imagine the army needed to accomplish that task — clergy, religious and laity. Nuncios and apostolic delegates play a special role in assuring that ties between the Holy See and local churches remain strong. They keep the pope informed about Church conditions around the world, which vary dramatically from place to place. They also play an important role in the appointment of bishops and in ecumenical relations.
As the Church is to proclaim the Gospel in every circumstance, papal representatives also keep the pope apprised of the societal and social state of affairs that determines the shape of the local Church’s mission as well as the situations, which help and hinder that mission. In some parts of the world that is a delicate, even dangerous, task.

Since nuncios are also ambassadors, they are responsible for promoting relationships between the Holy See and governments. This is important for several reasons. On the one hand, nuncios work to ensure that the local churches have freedom to function as they see fit, freedom to proclaim the Gospel, freedom to live in peace. On the other hand, nuncios also promote human dignity for all people (especially the most vulnerable) and offer moral guidance to world affairs, consistent with the truth revealed by God. For one who takes Christian faith seriously, presenting God’s truth to nations and governments is not optional.

No one can doubt the importance of the Vatican’s presence on the world scene, particularly during the papacy of John Paul II. Formed by his deep Catholic faith, his Polish heritage and the dramatic events of 20th century Europe — and profoundly influential in events of the second half of the 20th century — he has demonstrated again and again that the Church has a crucial role on the world scene.

If we believe that the Gospel is the truth revealed by God, that the Church is Christ’s body sent to proclaim the Gospel, and that as the baptized we are part of his Body, then all of us have a similar role in our counties and communities. Not only are we to personally practice the truth as revealed by God; we are also to proclaim it and do what is in our power to ensure that society is guided by that truth.

In maintaining diplomatic relationships with 174 countries, the Holy See is fulfilling a critical aspect of the mission of the Church. The world and its people, created and redeemed by God, have a right to the Gospel proclaimed for their salvation. They have a right to live in a way that is consistent with their God-given dignity. Baptized into the death and resurrection of Christ, we have a responsibility to God and to the world.

Special to Arkansas Catholic

Latest from From the Bishop

Vatican has important place in the world

From all appearances, the morning Bishop McDonald and I were awaiting our private audience with the pope was a typical one for the Papal Palace. A variety of workers — Swiss Guards, attendants and priests on the papal staff — were busy about their jobs. They welcomed visitors, explained Vatican protocol and prepared the pope for each meeting with essential background information.

The presence of one visitor in particular intrigued me: the prime minister of Portugal, José Manuel Durão Barroso. I know nothing about Portuguese politics and little about the country itself. I have no idea what agenda the prime minister brought to the Holy Father that day. Perhaps the purpose of his visit was spiritual. Perhaps it was political. Perhaps it was both. What struck me was that in the daily life of Vatican City and the Holy Father, the presence of a prime minister is a natural, ordinary occurrence. Church and government interact as a matter of course.

Vatican City State encompasses only 109 acres and has a resident population of less than 800, yet it maintains diplomatic relations with 174 countries and other entities such as the European Union, and special relations with groups such as the Russian Federation and the Organization for the Liberation of Palestine.

Vatican City State is a recognized national territory under international law, enters into international agreements and receives and sends diplomats to countries around the world. Cardinal Angelo Sodano has been secretary of state since 1991 and oversees a large pool of papal legates charged with representing the pope in various nations and regions. When the legation is only to the Church in a certain country, the papal representative is called the apostolic delegate. When the Vatican has formal diplomatic relations with a country, the papal representative is known as the apostolic nuncio and has the rank of ambassador; he also serves as representative to the local Church.

The United States did not have formal diplomatic relations with the Vatican until 1984. The first U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, William A. Wilson, was appointed by President Reagan. The current ambassador, James Nicholson, was appointed by President Bush. Prior to 1984, the pope’s representative to the United States had been an apostolic delegate, but with the establishment of formal diplomatic relations, the Holy See now has a nuncio in our country; the current nuncio is Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo.

Why does the Holy See have apostolic delegates and nuncios? What purpose does it serve the Kingdom of God for the Vatican to have diplomatic relations with 174 countries? Does that not blur the separation of church and state?

Pope John Paul II is pastor of more than one billion Catholics. Imagine the army needed to accomplish that task — clergy, religious and laity. Nuncios and apostolic delegates play a special role in assuring that ties between the Holy See and local churches remain strong. They keep the pope informed about Church conditions around the world, which vary dramatically from place to place. They also play an important role in the appointment of bishops and in ecumenical relations.
As the Church is to proclaim the Gospel in every circumstance, papal representatives also keep the pope apprised of the societal and social state of affairs that determines the shape of the local Church’s mission as well as the situations, which help and hinder that mission. In some parts of the world that is a delicate, even dangerous, task.

Since nuncios are also ambassadors, they are responsible for promoting relationships between the Holy See and governments. This is important for several reasons. On the one hand, nuncios work to ensure that the local churches have freedom to function as they see fit, freedom to proclaim the Gospel, freedom to live in peace. On the other hand, nuncios also promote human dignity for all people (especially the most vulnerable) and offer moral guidance to world affairs, consistent with the truth revealed by God. For one who takes Christian faith seriously, presenting God’s truth to nations and governments is not optional.

No one can doubt the importance of the Vatican’s presence on the world scene, particularly during the papacy of John Paul II. Formed by his deep Catholic faith, his Polish heritage and the dramatic events of 20th century Europe — and profoundly influential in events of the second half of the 20th century — he has demonstrated again and again that the Church has a crucial role on the world scene.

If we believe that the Gospel is the truth revealed by God, that the Church is Christ’s body sent to proclaim the Gospel, and that as the baptized we are part of his Body, then all of us have a similar role in our counties and communities. Not only are we to personally practice the truth as revealed by God; we are also to proclaim it and do what is in our power to ensure that society is guided by that truth.

In maintaining diplomatic relationships with 174 countries, the Holy See is fulfilling a critical aspect of the mission of the Church. The world and its people, created and redeemed by God, have a right to the Gospel proclaimed for their salvation. They have a right to live in a way that is consistent with their God-given dignity. Baptized into the death and resurrection of Christ, we have a responsibility to God and to the world.

Special to Arkansas Catholic

Latest from From the Bishop