Papal Diplomacy & Leo XIV

Just a few days after the conclave, the newly elected pope Leo XIV had to pass his first test of international politics. Some had overinterpreted remarks from Cardinal Parolin about the possibility of the Holy See serving as “facilitator” or “observer” for ending the war in Ukraine. The idea of making the Vatican the venue for peace talks between two countries in a war that has intra-Orthodox connotations was a departure from the more active role of “mediation” that some imagined or hoped for. At any rate, Vladimir Putin ignored the offer. Though Pope Leo and his top diplomats have so far managed to avoid this instrumental and cynical use of the Vatican, the U.S. attack on Iranian nuclear sites now presents a fresh challenge. “I want to just thank everybody,” Donald Trump said in a speech from the White House after the bombing. “And, in particular, God. I want to just say, we love you, God, and we love our great military. Protect them. God bless the Middle East. God bless Israel and God bless America.” Behind him as he spoke stood his Catholic vice president, his Catholic secretary of state, and a secretary of defense who authored a book titled American Crusade.