December 22, 2014

Of Popes and Power

editor:	Gurmeet Singh

Religion is bad, isn’t it? Religious authorities are terrible, aren’t they? After millennia of exploitation by religious authorities across the world, I can see why this is the default stance of many.

However, cynicism should be tempered with reminders that religion still has a role to play in the world. How the Vatican came to be in a position of influence in the world, should not be forgotten; however, neither should its diplomatic role. Since criticism of the Vatican comes in the form of political analysis, it should be equally praised when having a positive political impact.And in the past few years, under the distinguished leadership of Pope Francis, the Vatican is demonstrating that religious authorities are well-placed to have a positive impact in the political realm.

The Vatican behaved like a criminal, neo-conservative reactionary body under Joseph Ratzinger- that had to change- for reasons clear enough to the Vatican itself- and it now channels its energies into its diplomatic services.

The structure and goals of its diplomatic body are well-explained in this article from the Guardian. Last week, the Vatican helped broker a deal between the US and Cuba that will see trade and travel improve between the two nations, as well a US embassy being built in Havana.

Whatever criticisms can be levelled at the deal itself, it should be acknowledged that it is a very significant step out of the old-world order, and that a religious body helped to bring about a deal between two nations whose relations in the past almost brought the world to nuclear disaster.