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Part XI of “Fourteen Letters to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV” Series
Dear Holy Father:
The separation of church and state is a concept or doctrine described as a “wall of separation.” It aims to maintain a clear distinction between religious institutions and governmental entities. This doctrine, rooted in the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment’s Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause, prevents the government from establishing a national religion or interfering with individuals’ rights to practice their chosen faith freely.
However, the Vatican City is a tiny sovereign state that also serves as a religious and governmental institution. It is also known as “The Holy See,” which serves as the universal government of the Catholic Church. However, the State of the Vatican’s constituents may be the largest in the world, in terms of the number and locations of its congregations.
According to Google, there are approximately 1.406 billion Catholics worldwide as of 2023. This represents about 17.7% of the global population. While the Catholic population has been growing overall, the growth of its constituents is not uniform across continents. Membership increases are primarily observed in Africa and the Americas. The Old World of Europe shows a decline in the number of practicing Catholics.
It is a landlocked sovereign city-state within the City of Rome, Italy. The Vatican is recognized as a distinct state under international law. The Vatican City State was established in 1929 by the Lateran Treaty, which granted the Holy See its own independent territory. Many countries send an ambassador to the Vatican. However, for practical purposes, the country’s ambassador to the Holy See often holds office in the embassy’s premises in the City of Rome. In most cases, the country’s ambassador to Italy is also the concurrent envoy to the Holy See, also known as the Vatican.
However, the Vatican is not a full-fledged member of the United Nations. It holds a special status as a Permanent Observer State, which allows it to participate in UN activities but without voting rights.
“ … Pope Leo XIV has urged for de-escalation of the conflict in Iran, by saying: “War does not solve problems; on the contrary, it amplifies them and inflicts deep wounds on the history of peoples, which take generations to heal. No armed victory can compensate for the pain of mothers, the fear of children, or stolen futures”.
Thus, the Vatican State can validly comment, for instance, on last week’s bombing of the State of Iran by the United States of America, which did not issue a “congressional declaration of war.”
Time magazine reported that Pope Leo XIV has urged for de-escalation of the conflict in Iran, by saying: “War does not solve problems; on the contrary, it amplifies them and inflicts deep wounds on the history of peoples, which take generations to heal. No armed victory can compensate for the pain of mothers, the fear of children, or stolen futures”. The Chicago-born Pontiff advised further: “May diplomacy silence the weapons (of war)! May nations chart their futures with works of peace, not with violence and bloodstained conflicts!”
The State of the Vatican can also help other countries — without being accused of interfering in the domestic affairs of foreign nations where its constituents reside. Yes, such as providing plans, programs, and charitable assistance in addressing socioeconomic problems like homelessness, violence, a lack of universal healthcare and educational opportunities, and the absence of socioeconomic safety nets, among many social ills. And in helping to fight the looming existential threats of Global Warming and the increasing number of natural disasters.
In the humble opinion of this columnist, what the Vatican State needs to do is officially inform the home government, especially in Catholic-majority foreign countries like the Philippines, of its plans to assist in socioeconomic development projects of the members of its affiliated dioceses, parishes, and congregations. Yes, especially in forming consumer-and-worker cooperatives, credit unions, and other collective endeavors, such as modern medical centers, which are all organized according to the foreign country’s national, regional, and local laws, rules, and regulations. It can invite foreign governments to join it and Catholic institutions in forming Public-Private Partnerships for fundamental socioeconomic structural reforms.
Thank you, Your Holiness, for your attention and assistance.
Very respectfully yours in Jesus Christ,
Roberto (Bobby) M. Reyes
Journalist and Book Author
