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February 28, 2013

The Pope as Diplomat

Edward Pentin, Foreign Affairs

AP Photo

As Pope Benedict XVI abdicates the papacy, retiring to a life of prayer and study, he leaves behind an admirable, if somewhat chequered, record in international relations. His influence in foreign affairs -- like that of all popes -- has been considerable. As a truly global body with over a billion members, the world’s oldest diplomatic service, and a vast network of humanitarian aid organizations, the Catholic Church is arguably able to frame foreign policy in a way no other institution can.

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TAGGED: Catholic Church, Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI

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