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Focus: CST and International Relations Leadership and Ministry The Catholic Church and International Relations In November 2022, St Mary’s University, Twickenham hosted a day conference looking at the Church and International Relations, following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia earlier in the year. Most of the papers given at the conference are published in this section of our journal. Ashley Beck is Course Lead of the MA in Catholic Social Teaching and Christopher Wylde is Course Lead of the MA in Diplomacy and International Relations, both at St Mary’s University. The organisers introduced the day. One of the contributors to the conference was Professor Philip Booth. His paper was essentially the article he wrote for this journal, ‘Whither Global Governance’ ( January/February/March 2021 Vol. 17, Issue 1). Introduction The poster for this day conference shows Pope Benedict XV (Giacomo della Chiesa) who was pope during the First World War; he died a hundred years ago this year. For most of his ministry as a priest, he was a Vatican diplomat; although his efforts to end the war were unsuccessful, he remains an inspirational figure for those who believe that the Holy See’s work through international diplomacy for peace in the world is an important part of the Church’s mission, and one in which she can work fruitfully with others. This conference is an act of dialogue, partly in the spirit of the ‘synodal pathway’ established by Pope Francis just over a year ago, to draw on Church teachings and the experience of diplomats in the light (if that’s the right word) of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia earlier this year. We will also look at some of the other contributions by the Catholic Church to the building of peace in the world. Catholic Social Teaching and International Relations The tradition of moral theology known as Catholic Social Teaching is one of the resources which Catholics and others can draw on. The basic resource for this, the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, has a chapter devoted to International Relations and to help us begin the day I will share brief ly some of its insights now. The Compendium’s basic method is to begin with a biblical ref lection, and here the focus is on the unity of the human family created by God; this unity is broken because of human hubris shown in the story of the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11.1–9). Jesus, just as he reconciles humanity with God, becomes the prototype for a fresh start, a new unity; this is also to be modelled on the nature of God the Trinity – three equal persons, balanced in love. It follows that International Relations need to be founded on shared values; adherence to the moral law will bring about harmony. This theological basis for the Church’s diplomacy demonstrates a shift from periods of history when people might have thought that papal diplomacy was simply designed to protect the interests of the Church, or in many periods the interests of the Papal States in Italy. The need for international law to be respected leads the Church to support strongly international organisations such as the United 6 | Pastoral Review Vol. 19 Issue 2 | April/May/June 2023
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Focus: CST and International Relations PHOTO: BENEDICT XV (GIACOMO DELLA CHIESA) Nations and agencies linked to it; part of the purpose of these bodies should be to promote international developments, the fight against poverty and the reduction of debt in poorer countries. Some current issues The invasion of the Republic of Ukraine by the Russian Federation in February has made the issue of the Church’s engagement with International Relations even more urgent. What is the right response to such a blatant disregard for international law? What role does diplomacy have? Not that long before the invasion, in October 2020, Pope Francis published his encyclical Fratelli tutti, and in the letter there is an extended section on war and peace. The Pope has this to say about the right to self- defence in the context of traditional ‘Just War’ teaching: The Catechism of the Catholic Church speaks of the possibility of legitimate defence by means of military force, which involves April/May/June 2023 | Pastoral Review Vol. 19 Issue 2 | 7

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Focus: CST and International Relations

Leadership and Ministry

The Catholic Church and International Relations

In November 2022, St Mary’s University, Twickenham hosted a day conference looking at the Church and International Relations, following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia earlier in the year. Most of the papers given at the conference are published in this section of our journal. Ashley Beck is Course Lead of the MA in Catholic Social Teaching and Christopher Wylde is Course Lead of the MA in Diplomacy and International Relations, both at St Mary’s University. The organisers introduced the day. One of the contributors to the conference was Professor Philip Booth. His paper was essentially the article he wrote for this journal, ‘Whither Global Governance’ ( January/February/March 2021 Vol. 17, Issue 1).

Introduction

The poster for this day conference shows Pope Benedict XV (Giacomo della Chiesa) who was pope during the First World War; he died a hundred years ago this year. For most of his ministry as a priest, he was a Vatican diplomat; although his efforts to end the war were unsuccessful, he remains an inspirational figure for those who believe that the Holy See’s work through international diplomacy for peace in the world is an important part of the Church’s mission, and one in which she can work fruitfully with others. This conference is an act of dialogue, partly in the spirit of the ‘synodal pathway’ established by Pope Francis just over a year ago, to draw on Church teachings and the experience of diplomats in the light (if that’s the right word) of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia earlier this year. We will also look at some of the other contributions by the Catholic Church to the building of peace in the world.

Catholic Social Teaching and International Relations

The tradition of moral theology known as Catholic

Social Teaching is one of the resources which Catholics and others can draw on. The basic resource for this, the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, has a chapter devoted to International Relations and to help us begin the day I will share brief ly some of its insights now. The Compendium’s basic method is to begin with a biblical ref lection, and here the focus is on the unity of the human family created by God; this unity is broken because of human hubris shown in the story of the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11.1–9). Jesus, just as he reconciles humanity with God, becomes the prototype for a fresh start, a new unity; this is also to be modelled on the nature of God the Trinity – three equal persons, balanced in love.

It follows that International Relations need to be founded on shared values; adherence to the moral law will bring about harmony. This theological basis for the Church’s diplomacy demonstrates a shift from periods of history when people might have thought that papal diplomacy was simply designed to protect the interests of the Church, or in many periods the interests of the Papal States in Italy. The need for international law to be respected leads the Church to support strongly international organisations such as the United

6 | Pastoral Review Vol. 19 Issue 2 | April/May/June 2023

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