This study explores the hybridity of the Vatican’s public diplomacy by contextualizing the papacy as both a political and religious office since Vatican II. It uses a textual analysis of papal foreign speeches spanning 1964 to 2021 to understand the evolving rhetoric and engagement practices during state visits and ecclesiastical missions abroad. 1,307 speeches were collected spanning 114 countries. Findings suggest that, stemming from a centuries-old risk-averse institution, papal rhetoric has changed minimally over the last half-century despite increased papal exposure and personalization. Key themes from Catholic doctrine, including universality, evangelization, and social responsibility have remained consistent from Paul VI to Francis I. Secondly, while papal rhetoric has changed marginally, it has evolved to be more targeted and focused on everyday publics and inter-faith engagement, i.e., public diplomacy, with reduced emphasis on traditional political, diplomatic, and clerical elites, i.e., traditional diplomacy.
Authors: Henry Testerman, Leanna Smith
Advisor: Phillip Arceneaux, Media, Journalism and Film
You must be logged in to post a comment.