[Alberta's Child]

Can someone explain why the Pope or the Catholic Church has “diplomatic ties” with the US? It’s not a country, it’s a religion. What other religious group has “diplomatic ties” to the US? Does the Eastern Orthodox Church have “diplomatic ties”?

The "Catholic Church" does not have direct diplomatic ties to the U.S. Vatican City, a sovereign nation under the control of the Catholic Church, maintains diplomatic ties with other nations all over the world.

[King Moonracer]

The United States Embassy to the Holy See, is located on the Aventine hill in the beautiful Villa Domiziana, which was built as a private residence in 1953. In 1994 the United States government acquired the property as the new chancery for the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See.

Formal diplomatic relations with the Holy See were established in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II. The mission works in partnership with the Holy See on global issues including HIV/AIDS, world hunger, religious freedom and human rights. As a global entity, the Holy See is influential on many issues and has far-reaching influence in even the most remote corners of the world.