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The Pope is a spiritual shepherd, not a statesman.>>>>>

The Pope is a head of state as well, Vatican City is its own sovereign soil with the pope as it's head of state. The UN also recognizes it as a seaparate country with the Pope being the head where they appoint an ambassador to the UN.
That is why, constitutionally, the president, as chief ambassador, usually greets the pope when he comes to America. He doesn't have to do it with any other religious leader since they are not a head of state.

36 posted on 07/14/2003 1:36:33 PM PDT by Coleus (God is Pro Life and Straight and gave an innate predisposition for self-preservation and protection)

Riiiiight... But for the purposes of his views on world events, he's not a statesman. There are 450 citizens of the Holy See.