| dc.description.abstract | The Holy See, the governing body of the Catholic Church, stands out in the international
arena as a unique entity that combines a political structure with a religious institution.
The Holy See currently maintains diplomatic relations with 183 countries and enjoys the
status of a Permanent Observer at the United Nations Organisation. In addition to being
an in uential religious institution, the Holy See is also the oldest continuously operating
international organisation in the world. The primary objectives of the Holy See are
spiritual, moral and humanitarian in nature and it does not pursue military objectives
and lacks the conventional tools of hard power that determine the prominence of a state
on the international stage. Nevertheless, the Holy See distinguishes itself from other
states through the use of Joseph Nye’s concept of soft power in its diplomatic relations.
The Holy See employs soft power through a network of churches, social and educational
institutions spread across the globe. The Holy See is utilising soft power in a wide range
of domains, including con ict resolution, climate change, inter-religious dialogue, nuclear
disarmament and refugee crisis. The Pope exercises soft power through Papal visits and
by shaping the opinions of 1.3 billion Catholics on contemporary issues. This research
focuses on how the smallest state in the world has utilised soft power e ectively to achieve
its diplomatic goals. This research predominantly utilises the qualitative methodology
and data is collected from both primary and secondary sources. | en_US |
