The Vatican State: A Geopolitical History from the late 19th to the 21st Century - Special Episode 18

The Holy See, governing Vatican City, is a unique entity with global spiritual influence that has navigated significant geopolitical transformations from the loss of the Papal States through the 20th and 21st centuries, always prioritising its universal mission.The Holy See's diplomatic strategies shifted over time, from the "Prisoner in the Vatican" era and the Lateran Pacts, through neutrality during the World Wars and engagement during the Cold War, to its current focus on human rights, interfaith dialogue, and global issues.Despite lacking conventional power, the Holy See exerts considerable soft power through its extensive diplomatic network, moral authority, and media apparatus, allowing it to influence international affairs.