African Vector of the Holy See’s Foreign Policy

Diplomatic service is a unique feature of the Roman Catholic Church, which distinguishes it from all other religious institutions. For a long time, Africa remained on the periphery of the foreign policy interests of the Holy See, and Catholicism was able to achieve significant success only by the end of the 19th - mid-20th centuries. The withdrawal of the USSR from the region and the collapse of the world socialist system opened new ideological horizons for the Holy See on the continent in the late 20th - early 21st centuries, and papal diplomacy was able to take full advantage of them. The purpose of the article is to determine the degree of diplomatic activity of the Holy See in African countries during the period from the pontificate of Pius XI to the pontificate of Francis. The number of African countries that have established diplomatic relations with the Holy See, as well as those visited by the Popes, is assessed dynamically; the number of agreements (concordats) concluded between the Holy See and African countries is also evaluated. It is argued that as a result of the conclusion of concordats, two important tasks are solved: the development of national Churches is ensured, provided that their ties with the Roman Curia are maintained, and the positions of Catholicism in the most important areas of life in African society are consolidated.

Holy See, Africa, diplomatic relations, concordat, Apostolic journey