USP - Conférence : "Dans les secrets de la diplomatie vaticane"

We know the Bishop of Rome’s role as a spiritual leader, at the head of a Church with nearly one and a half billion faithful. But the pope is also a head of state, the head of %AB the Vatican City State%A0%BB. In this capacity, the Pope exerts influence and plays a role in the realm of international relations. What is the actual influence of this Vatican diplomacy—unique in the world—and how does it operate on the international stage? From the defense of Christian minorities in the Middle East to the fight for migrants, relations with U.S. presidents, the delicate relationship with the Chinese Communist Party—or the Ukrainian issue? Constance Colonna-Cesari will focus on a few of these burning issues. This diplomacy, which has a long history behind it, is not immune to certain pitfalls.

Constance COLONNA CESARI, author, journalist, and filmmaker, has been a specialist for thirty years in issues related to Christianity and its leaders. She contributes to numerous newspapers, including *Sud-Ouest*, *Marianne*, *l’Obs*, *Le Temps de Genève*, and the journal *Politique internationale*. Among her recent books and films, the book *Dans les secrets de la Diplomatie vaticane* (Inside the Secrets of Vatican Diplomacy), published by Editions du Seuil, won the *L’Express* Documentary Award. She directed the documentary *Les Diplomates du Pape* (The Pope’s Diplomats), which aired on Arte in 2018, and most recently *Les Dernières batailles du Pape François* (Pope Francis’s Last Battles), which aired on LCP.