As I read through my Vatican press pack, it is striking the degree to which the Pope is not only the leader of an ancient global Church but also a practiced flying diplomat, his connections unparalleled by many secular heads of state, apart from perhaps the Queen. He is at the head of an organisation with representatives in almost every country, and in return, the diplomats of most countries at the Holy See. Rome is the place they can all meet, overtly or covertly, while Vatican diplomacy has in recent weeks helped thaw the long deep-frozen relationship between the US and Cuba. And as we fly overhead, the Popes blessings, prayers and warm wishes are telegrammed to the heads of state of each country as we pass above, from Albania to Greece, Turkey, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and India, the time we pass over each logged on a map in an embossed folder that each journalist receives. Every head of state we pass over is offered prayers and blessings, as the leader of the worlds 1.3 billion Catholics flies through the night skies above.
Posted on: Wed, 14 Jan 2015 16:11:40 +0000
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