US Helsinki Commission Examines Holy See Diplomacy Amid Global Conflict

The U.S. Helsinki Commission held a briefing on April 13, 2026, to examine the diplomatic strategies of the Holy See during a period of global polarization, power politics, and war. The session, titled Vatican Diplomacy in an Age of Estrangement, Power Politics, and War, occurred as the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV approached its first anniversary.

The briefing coincided with a public conflict between the United States presidency and the papacy. On April 13, 2026, President Donald Trump used social media to denounce Pope Leo XIV, describing him as terrible for foreign policy and claiming responsibility for the pope’s election to the papacy.

The Holy See’s Diplomatic Framework

During the hearing, Alexander John Paul Lutz, a policy fellow at the Helsinki Commission, testified that the Holy See’s approach to international relations differs fundamentally from that of other world powers. Lutz stated that while many global actors operate through transactionalism, force, and political angling, Pope Leo XIV has presented a different vision.

Lutz referenced an address delivered by Pope Leo XIV to the diplomatic corps in January 2026 to illustrate this distinction. According to Lutz, the Holy See asserts that the sanctity of life and the protection of human dignity hold more value than any specific national interest.

the protection of the principle of the inviolability of human dignity and the sanctity of life always counts for more than any mere national interest.

Pope Leo XIV, as cited by Alexander John Paul Lutz

The Holy See maintains a policy of political neutrality, which allows it to engage with parties that the broader international community may seek to isolate. This neutrality is intended to advance a moral position rather than a political platform.

Institutional Role and Global Mediation

The Helsinki Commission briefing explored the unique nature of the Holy See as an entity that functions as both a church and a state. Panelists discussed the Vatican’s competence as a global mediator and the efficacy of its soft power in tempering geopolitical extremes.

Lutz testified that the Holy See does not fully endorse the political platforms of any state. Instead, it applies intellectual and moral rigor to the policies it encounters, including those of the United States, in an effort to improve them. He noted that the Vatican insists on speaking the truth for the record, even if such honesty results in scorn or misunderstanding.

The witnesses at the April 13 briefing included:

• Alexander John Paul Lutz, policy fellow at the Helsinki Commission
• Victor Gaetan, senior international correspondent at the National Catholic Register
• Jackie Aldrette, Deputy Secretary General for US Relations of the AVSI Foundation
• Peter G. Martin, former U.S. Diplomat accredited to the Holy See and Special Assistant to the President of Boston College

Contrast with Modern Statecraft

The Commission highlighted a growing divide between the Holy See’s methods and the prevailing trends in international statecraft. While many states are increasingly utilizing coercion and military force as their primary instruments, the Holy See focuses on urging the protection of individual freedom and dignity.

Lutz concluded that no other state on earth is attempting to address the world by insisting that it answer to a standard higher than power. This approach stands in direct contrast to the framework of axes, alliances, and haste that characterizes much of current international affairs.