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”?
To me, it just shows that the Catholic Church is as much a political establishment as it is a religious one.
Vatican City is consider a sovereign city-state. As such it has diplomatic institutions. I’m not saying this makes sense.
“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”?
To me, it just shows that the Catholic Church is as much a political establishment as it is a religious one.”
It can’t be both.
The Vatican is an independent, sovereign country with diplomats and all.
Now I preface my remarks with the factthat I’m married to a catholic woman, an one of my kinds has converted to the Catholic faith so I am not in any way anti-catholic.
The fact is that historically the Holy See has very much been a political power just as much, if not more so at certain points in history, as a theological power. The Vatican’s power today is nothing close to the influence it once wielded, but that political power does still exist. The Vatican does not directly influence the political processes of other nations as it once did, but there is little doubt about the poltiical clout carried by the leader of an organized religion that can attest to dedicated members in the millions.
Yes, the Vatican is considered a city-state and as such is as much a secular government as it is a religious center and that is the official reason for diplomatic ties, but just under that veneer is a still very powerful political machine thatcan still flex alot of muscle and money when it feels the need.
The Pope is the head of the Vatican. Vatican City is a sovereign and independent state.
First of all, all religions are partly political. Second - because of history, tradion, and geography, the Catholic Church is a state. The Vatican used to be a whole lot bigger than it is now. The Pope did act as king and even had armies. Saying its wrong doesn’t change the facts. The Pope has a lot of influence over a lot of people in every country on the planet. So why not diplomatic relations?
Vatican City is a sovereign country.
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.