Vatican Diplomatic Corps
Encyclopedia
The term Vatican Diplomatic Corps, if used to mean the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See, can be considered on two grounds a serious misnomer or at least gravely ambiguous.
The Holy See
is distinct from the State of Vatican City
, having existed long before the creation of the latter (in 1929) and being, in the eyes of the governments that have diplomatic relations with it, far more important than the 44-hectare statelet.
The term diplomatic corps
properly means the whole body of diplomats, or at least the heads of mission, accredited to a government, not by a government.
If by "diplomatic service" is meant a body of representatives of a government permanently posted abroad to foster relations with the government of their residence, and not merely sent on particular missions, the diplomatic service of the Holy See is the oldest now in existence. The earliest was that of the Republic of Venice
. Only under Henry VII of England
(1456–1509) did that country begin to make use of permanent embassies (Hyginus Eugene Cardinale: The Holy See and the International Order, Colin Smythe 1976, ISBN 0-900675-60-8, p. 61).
If the apocrisiarii
of the Pope to the government of the Byzantine Empire
, who were resident in Constantinople
, and the legati
that he sent on important special missions are considered to be, in a broader sense, diplomats, then the history of the diplomatic service of the Holy See can be said to have its origins in a period before even the creation of any of the present-day European states.
The Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
is distinct from the State of Vatican City
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
, having existed long before the creation of the latter (in 1929) and being, in the eyes of the governments that have diplomatic relations with it, far more important than the 44-hectare statelet.
The term diplomatic corps
Diplomatic corps
The diplomatic corps or corps diplomatique is the collective body of foreign diplomats accredited to a particular country or body.The diplomatic corps may, in certain contexts, refer to the collection of accredited heads of mission who represent their countries in another state or country...
properly means the whole body of diplomats, or at least the heads of mission, accredited to a government, not by a government.
If by "diplomatic service" is meant a body of representatives of a government permanently posted abroad to foster relations with the government of their residence, and not merely sent on particular missions, the diplomatic service of the Holy See is the oldest now in existence. The earliest was that of the Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
. Only under Henry VII of England
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
(1456–1509) did that country begin to make use of permanent embassies (Hyginus Eugene Cardinale: The Holy See and the International Order, Colin Smythe 1976, ISBN 0-900675-60-8, p. 61).
If the apocrisiarii
Apocrisiarius
An apocrisiarius, the Latinized form of apokrisiarios , sometimes Anglicized as apocrisiary, was a high diplomatic representative during Late Antiquity and the early medieval period. The corresponding Latin term was responsalis...
of the Pope to the government of the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
, who were resident in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, and the legati
Papal legate
A papal legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters....
that he sent on important special missions are considered to be, in a broader sense, diplomats, then the history of the diplomatic service of the Holy See can be said to have its origins in a period before even the creation of any of the present-day European states.
External links
- See the premiere and comprehensive website on Vatican diplomacy at http://www.vaticandiplomacy.org
- http://www.catholic-pages.com/vatican/diplomacy.asp