Dyplomacja i mediacje Stolicy Apostolskiej wobec wybranych konfliktów XX i XXI wieku

Abstrakt

The Holy See, as a unique subject of international law with a moral status, has for centuries acted as both dip-lomat and mediator in conflicts. In its activities, it combines formal channels (nunciatures, the Secretariat of State, concordats, and treaties) with mediation tools (papal missions, communication corridors and public ap-peals for peace). The three pillars of its effectiveness are: neutrality –it does not take sides, nor favor any politi-cal system, ideology, or military alliance, thereby enabling dialogue with all parties; impartiality – mediation without bias, based on an objective assessment of the situation, which builds trust even among deeply conflict-ing actors; and moral authority – rooted in the teaching of the Catholic Church, it upholds universal values of human dignity and natural law, strengthening its position in defending human rights and social justice Within this framework, two interrelated yet distinct spheres of activity can be distinguished: diplomacy and mediation. Diplomacy is a permanent network of relations with states and international organizations. It includes, among other elements, nunciatures accredited to more than 180 countries as well as to the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU); the Secretariat of State, which coordinates both official visits and concordats and dis-creetly facilitates intergovernmental negotiations; and formal instruments such as treaties, official letters, and diplomatic correspondence. Mediation represents a special form of intervention in crises: public appeals for ceasefires (papal messages and encyclicals), discreet communication corridors (the confidential transmission of messages), personal papal missions or envoys, and logistical and humanitarian support that builds trust between parties. This text analyzes key interventions and initiatives of the Holy See in 20th- and 21st-century conflicts, taking into account the evolution of papal strategies, the instruments employed, and the main constraints and outcomes achieved.