It is interesting that Davis chose the Bishop of Charleston for the job. Afterall, Lynch was, in effect, the Pope's "emissary" to the Catholic of South Carolina. One of Lynch's main duties was to work with the Catholic countries of Europe, especially Ireland, to turn off the spigot of Catholics flowing into the United States. He was largely successful.
After the war, the Church did harbor several former Confederate envoys. I believe they negotiated a pardon for Lynch. Of course, the Church harbored Noriega of Panama too.
Lynch was also appointed to a specific role, ambassador to the Vatican. Davis even sent papers to Antonelli informing the cardinal of this specified appointment. Thus Lynch was something more than an ambassador-at-large, also possessing a specific charge to conduct the CSA's treaties with the pope.
It is interesting that Davis chose the Bishop of Charleston for the job.
It is both interesting and insightful to the relations existing between the CSA and Catholic church. That a bishop would accept both a diplomatic appointment from the CSA and simultaneously serve as an intermediary between the CSA and Vatican as a representative of both is in itself telling of a far more formalized and existing relationship between the two than simply sending a diplomat would convey.
One of Lynch's main duties was to work with the Catholic countries of Europe, especially Ireland, to turn off the spigot of Catholics flowing into the United States. He was largely successful.
He was also aided greatly by the letter Pius issued to Davis and subsequent letters from Antonelli, which generally condemned the warfare being waged by the north.
After the war, the Church did harbor several former Confederate envoys. I believe they negotiated a pardon for Lynch.
IIRC, Lynch was at the Vatican when Lee surrendered. The Vatican did indeed fight to secure him safe passage back to his seat in Charleston, as it rightfully should have.