How the Vatican’s Embassies Shape the World
Soft Power, Sovereignty, and Spiritual Diplomacy
The Soft Power of a State Without a Nation
When you think of sovereign states, certain images come easily: flags, borders, citizens, armies, industries. France, Japan, the United States—these nations are universally acknowledged. Then there are regions like Western Sahara or Northern Cyprus, whose sovereignty is fiercely disputed. Somewhere in between sit places like Kosovo and Palestine, recognized by some, ignored by others.
But beyond these blurred lines stands a unique entity that bends every rule: the Vatican.
The Vatican is an internationally recognized sovereign state. Yet it lacks almost every traditional feature usually required for that title. It has no real permanent population, no birthright citizenship, no independent economy, and no standalone legal system. In fact, there isn't even a universally recognized term for its citizens because no one is born there.
And yet, the Vatican enjoys the full rights and privileges of international diplomacy. It operates embassies, maintains ambassadors, and sits at the United Nations. No other religious organization, not even Islam or Judaism, enjoys these state-like privileges.
Vatican City: A Sovereign Anomaly
The Vatican’s existence as a state is as much a historical accident as it is a theological necessity. For centuries, the Catholic Church governed vast territories in Italy, known as the Papal States. These lands ensured the Church's independence from secular rulers.
However, this changed dramatically in 1870 when the newly unified Kingdom of Italy conquered Rome, absorbing the Papal States. Italy offered the Pope a compromise: control of a small district around the Vatican and a handsome financial settlement. The Popes refused. To accept would mean recognizing Italy’s authority over the conquered territories, an unacceptable submission for the Holy See.
For sixty years, successive Popes lived effectively as prisoners within the Vatican walls, refusing to step into Italy.
This impasse finally ended under Benito Mussolini. In 1929, through the Lateran Treaty, Mussolini recognized Vatican City as an independent state. This gave the Pope complete sovereignty over a tiny sliver of land, just 0.19 square miles, but critically restored the Church's independence.
Notably, even before it had any territory, the Holy See was already recognized as a sovereign entity. Throughout the 19th century, the Vatican continued to exchange ambassadors and maintain diplomatic relations, even though it controlled no physical land.
Sovereignty, it turned out, was less about armies and borders and more about perception and tradition.
The Holy See: Government and Church as One
The government of the Vatican operates through the Holy See, a religious and political entity that predates Vatican City itself. It administers both the Church’s global activities and the affairs of the Vatican state.
Uniquely, the Pope serves as an absolute monarch, wielding supreme authority over all legislative, executive, and judicial decisions. Yet, he delegates most administrative functions to the Roman Curia, a body of officials organized into specialized departments.
At the top of this structure is the Secretariat of State, led by the Cardinal Secretary of State. He acts as a de facto prime minister, overseeing both domestic management and foreign diplomacy.
This heavy emphasis on foreign relations explains why the Holy See has built one of the most sophisticated diplomatic networks in the world—despite its tiny size.
Apostolic Nunciatures: Embassies of a Spiritual State
The Vatican operates 117 apostolic nunciatures worldwide, functioning as embassies. These diplomatic missions enjoy the same protections as traditional embassies: diplomatic immunity, extraterritoriality, and exemption from local laws and taxes.
However, nuncios do not represent the Vatican City State itself; they represent the Holy See, meaning they represent the Pope and the Catholic Church’s governance.
This distinction matters. It is what allows a religious institution, not a territorial state, to wield international diplomatic power.
Historical examples abound:
Syria: Even though Christians make up less than 10% of Syria’s population, the Holy See has maintained diplomatic relations with Syria since 1953. During the Syrian Civil War, while most Western embassies closed, the Vatican’s nuncio remained in Damascus, offering a neutral channel for dialogue and humanitarian efforts.
Indonesia: Despite being a Muslim-majority nation, Indonesia welcomed diplomatic ties with the Holy See soon after its independence. In 2017, Pope Francis met with Indonesian officials to strengthen interfaith dialogue and protect Christian minorities, illustrating how Vatican diplomacy serves religious coexistence.
Vietnam: In a communist state historically suspicious of religion, the Vatican has made slow but steady diplomatic inroads. In 2023, for the first time since the Vietnam War, a permanent papal representative was accepted in Hanoi, signaling a major thaw in relations.
These examples show that the Holy See maintains influence not only where Catholicism dominates but also in places where it represents a tiny minority.
The Holy See at the United Nations
One of the Vatican's most significant diplomatic achievements is its unique status at the United Nations. Since 1964, the Holy See has held the position of Permanent Observer, allowing it to participate in debates, propose initiatives, and shape resolutions—though it cannot vote.
Its diplomatic staff, based just a short walk from the UN headquarters in New York, is modest: one Archbishop, a few diplomats, and a handful of interns. Yet their impact is outsized.
Consider the early 2000s human cloning debate. After the cloning of Dolly the sheep, France and Germany proposed a narrow ban on reproductive cloning. The Holy See, however, pushed for a broader ban encompassing all human cloning, including therapeutic cloning. Through persistent lobbying and moral arguments, it successfully expanded the scope of the final UN declaration.
Even without a vote, the Vatican can steer debates by presenting moral arguments rooted in human dignity, life, and peace—values difficult for secular bodies to dismiss outright.
Soft Power, Not Hard Power
Unlike other states, the Vatican cannot threaten military force or wield economic sanctions. It holds no trade leverage and has no army beyond the Swiss Guard ceremonial force.
Instead, the Holy See wields soft power—influence rooted in moral authority, historical legitimacy, and global religious reach.
It influences debates, mediates conflicts, and advocates for human rights. Its success often lies not in imposing its will but in nudging the conversation subtly toward its moral vision.
More examples of this include:
The Cuban Thaw (2014): Behind the scenes, Pope Francis and the Vatican facilitated secret talks between the United States and Cuba, helping broker the first thaw in relations in over fifty years.
South Sudan (2019): Pope Francis famously kissed the feet of rival South Sudanese leaders during a Vatican retreat aimed at securing peace in a country torn by civil war. His personal humility moved the leaders to recommit to negotiations.
The Central African Republic (2015): Amid sectarian violence, Pope Francis visited the capital Bangui, opened the Holy Door of the cathedral ahead of the Jubilee of Mercy, and helped inspire a fragile but lasting peace process.
These examples illustrate the Vatican’s extraordinary ability to mediate, moralize, and mobilize international goodwill without ever resorting to force.
The Smallest State with a Global Voice
The Holy See represents a diplomatic paradox: a state without a real nation, a government without a real economy, and a sovereign without physical power.
Its strength lies in its careful recognition of its own limitations. The Vatican does not overreach. It chooses battles carefully, intervenes only where moral credibility carries weight, and often leaves the hardest fights to others.
Yet it leaves a mark wherever it chooses to act—whether influencing a UN vote on human cloning, brokering peace between warring nations, or standing up for persecuted minorities worldwide.
In an increasingly fractured and cynical world, the Vatican reminds us that soft power, rooted in moral leadership and careful diplomacy, can still move history.
Even the smallest dog can have a bark heard around the world.