Overview

Using inside sources and extensive field reporting about the secretive, high-stakes world of international diplomacy, Vatican reporter Victor Gaetan takes readers to the Holy See to explicate Pope Francis's diplomacy, show why it works, and to offer readers a startling contrast to the dangerous inadequacies of recent U.S. international decisions.

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9781538150146

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Reviews

"[God's Diplomats is] a mix of impartial description and informed opinion. Not everyone will agree with how different issues are framed, or how different figures are portrayed. But what certainly cannot be argued with is the fact that Gaetan has given a gift not only to foreign policy practitioners, but also to American Catholics. You will not find a book on Church diplomacy as accessible, comprehensive, and faithful, as God's Diplomats. It is a must read for anyone interested in understanding the Vatican's diplomatic priorities better -- and especially why they don't always align with America's. -- ""National Catholic Register"" Gaetan's book fills a space never covered: by John Allen [renowned American Vaticanista], former Ambassadors, or Italian authors on the Holy See and diplomacy. Gaetan explains how and why the Vatican diplomatic corps works well and should be a model to US diplomacy. --James F. Creagan, US Ambassador/Professor of International Diplomacy, St. Mary University Gaetan's book tells the story that Pope Francis and Holy See diplomats themselves do not in a combination of accessible, novel-like prose and meticulous research (including 117 pages of endnotes). The award-winning journalist has reported on Vatican diplomacy for over 20 years, and in God's Diplomats he tells all. -- ""Los Angeles Review of Books"" God's Diplomats will appeal to many audiences. It is a must read for secular diplomats and Church leaders at every level engaged with the Church's diplomatic efforts. It should also be required reading for trained diplomats. In-the-pew Catholics and other people of goodwill will find it affirming of the positive role that religion can play in the public square. --Stephen M. Colecchi, Former Director of the Office of International Justice and Peace of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop God's Diplomats: Pope Francis, Vatican Diplomacy, and America's Armageddon is a welcome addition to the literature on the Holy See and it should not be missed, not only by scholars and a more general audience interested in the Holy See, but also by anyone interested in diplomacy and diplomatic negotiation in contemporary international relations. -- ""Where Peter Is"" History proved the Vatican to be correct when it warned the United States that going to war against Iraq would unleash mayhem. But how could the Church predict such an outcome? In this tour de force work of history, Victor Gaetan demonstrates how invaluable is the Vatican's worldwide diplomatic network, a veritable intelligence gathering machine. Iraq is just one example in Gaetan's book, in which he shows how the Church's well-established diplomacy infrastructure can serve as a force for world peace. --John Burger, News Editor, Aleteia I expect God's Diplomats will become a standard reference for scholars of the role of religion in international affairs, and benefit anyone who wishes to understand the impact of Vatican diplomacy, and its surprising ability to alter the views of world leaders as diverse as Vladimir Putin, George W. Bush, and Bashar al-Assad. --Nicolai N. Petro, Professor of Political Science, University of Rhode Island I'm so impressed by the meticulousness of the research, the breathtaking pace at which Victor Gaetan guides the reader in God's Diplomats through one of the most complex labyrinths on earth (which constantly made me feel I was reading a great spy novel), and the deep faith reflected in his careful historical analysis. --Carlos Eire, author of Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions of a Cuban Boy and winner of the 2003 National Book Award Illuminating, entertaining, and inspiring, God's Diplomats is a major contribution to contemporary literature on Catholicism, international relations and the Francis pontificate. --Austen Ivereigh, author of The Great Reformer: Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope In God's Diplomats, the chapters on the history of Vatican diplomacy in individual countries are a must-read for anyone trying to understand why the Vatican works the way it does. --Barb Fraze, International Editor, Catholic News Service Informative, insightful and entertaining, he has produced a page-turner that will shed much light and offer fresh perspective on parts of Pope Francis' ministry that have received too little attention. . . .If you read one book on Pope Francis and the Vatican this year, read this one! --Robert C. Mickens, Editor in Chief, La Croix International It's a fascinating read, well written, widely sourced, with over a hundred pages of endnotes. It is also a sympathetic view of the Church's involvement in world diplomacy, with particular emphasis on recent hotspots. I recommend it most highly. --Dwight G. Duncan, Professor at UMass School of Law Dartmouth This book is a must read for anyone wanting to understand the influence the papacy wields on global politics in the 21st century. --Christopher Lamb, Rome Correspondent, The Tablet Victor Gaetan expertly introduces readers to the history of this approach, and to how Pope Francis has employed it, in his book God's Diplomats. An experienced international correspondent, Gaetan bases his book on extensive interviews and research, including documents from the Vatican archives and from WikiLeaks. -- ""America Magazine"" Victor Gaetan's God's Diplomats will make a valuable contribution to writings about Holy See diplomacy. --Ambassador Francis Rooney, Former US Ambassador to the Holy See (2005-08) and former Congressman from Florida (2017-2021); Author of Global Diplomat: An Inside Look at the Catholic Church, World Politics, and the Extraordinary Relationship between the United States and the Holy See [God's Diplomats is] a mix of impartial description and informed opinion. Not everyone will agree with how different issues are framed, or how different figures are portrayed. But what certainly cannot be argued with is the fact that Gaetan has given a gift not only to foreign policy practitioners, but also to American Catholics. You will not find a book on Church diplomacy as accessible, comprehensive, and faithful, as God's Diplomats. It is a must read for anyone interested in understanding the Vatican's diplomatic priorities better -- and especially why they don't always align with America's. Gaetan's book fills a space never covered: by John Allen [renowned American Vaticanista], former Ambassadors, or Italian authors on the Holy See and diplomacy. Gaetan explains how and why the Vatican diplomatic corps works well and should be a model to US diplomacy. Gaetan's book tells the story that Pope Francis and Holy See diplomats themselves do not in a combination of accessible, novel-like prose and meticulous research (including 117 pages of endnotes). The award-winning journalist has reported on Vatican diplomacy for over 20 years, and in God's Diplomats he tells all. God's Diplomats will appeal to many audiences. It is a must read for secular diplomats and Church leaders at every level engaged with the Church's diplomatic efforts. It should also be required reading for trained diplomats. In-the-pew Catholics and other people of goodwill will find it affirming of the positive role that religion can play in the public square. God's Diplomats: Pope Francis, Vatican Diplomacy, and America's Armageddon is a welcome addition to the literature on the Holy See and it should not be missed, not only by scholars and a more general audience interested in the Holy See, but also by anyone interested in diplomacy and diplomatic negotiation in contemporary international relations. History proved the Vatican to be correct when it warned the United States that going to war against Iraq would unleash mayhem. But how could the Church predict such an outcome? In this tour de force work of history, Victor Gaetan demonstrates how invaluable is the Vatican's worldwide diplomatic network, a veritable intelligence gathering machine. Iraq is just one example in Gaetan's book, in which he shows how the Church's well-established diplomacy infrastructure can serve as a force for world peace. I expect God's Diplomats will become a standard reference for scholars of the role of religion in international affairs, and benefit anyone who wishes to understand the impact of Vatican diplomacy, and its surprising ability to alter the views of world leaders as diverse as Vladimir Putin, George W. Bush, and Bashar al-Assad. I'm so impressed by the meticulousness of the research, the breathtaking pace at which Victor Gaetan guides the reader in God's Diplomats through one of the most complex labyrinths on earth (which constantly made me feel I was reading a great spy novel), and the deep faith reflected in his careful historical analysis. Illuminating, entertaining, and inspiring, God's Diplomats is a major contribution to contemporary literature on Catholicism, international relations and the Francis pontificate. In God's Diplomats, the chapters on the history of Vatican diplomacy in individual countries are a must-read for anyone trying to understand why the Vatican works the way it does. Informative, insightful and entertaining, he has produced a page-turner that will shed much light and offer fresh perspective on parts of Pope Francis' ministry that have received too little attention. . . .If you read one book on Pope Francis and the Vatican this year, read this one! It's a fascinating read, well written, widely sourced, with over a hundred pages of endnotes. It is also a sympathetic view of the Church's involvement in world diplomacy, with particular emphasis on recent hotspots. I recommend it most highly. This book is a must read for anyone wanting to understand the influence the papacy wields on global politics in the 21st century. Victor Gaetan expertly introduces readers to the history of this approach, and to how Pope Francis has employed it, in his book God's Diplomats. An experienced international correspondent, Gaetan bases his book on extensive interviews and research, including documents from the Vatican archives and from WikiLeaks. Victor Gaetan's God's Diplomats will make a valuable contribution to writings about Holy See diplomacy."

I'm so impressed by the meticulousness of the research, the breathtaking pace at which Victor Gaetan guides the reader in God's Diplomats through one of the most complex labyrinths on earth (which constantly made me feel I was reading a great spy novel), and the deep faith reflected in his careful historical analysis.--Carlos Eire, author of Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions of a Cuban Boy and winner of the 2003 National Book Award Illuminating, entertaining, and inspiring, God's Diplomats is a major contribution to contemporary literature on Catholicism, international relations and the Francis pontificate.--Austen Ivereigh, author of The Great Reformer: Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope Gaetan's book fills a space never covered: by John Allen [renowned American Vaticanista], former Ambassadors, or Italian authors on the Holy See and diplomacy. Gaetan explains how and why the Vatican diplomatic corps works well and should be a model to US diplomacy.--James F. Creagan, US Ambassador/Professor of International Diplomacy, St. Mary University I expect God's Diplomats will become a standard reference for scholars of the role of religion in international affairs, and benefit anyone who wishes to understand the impact of Vatican diplomacy, and its surprising ability to alter the views of world leaders as diverse as Vladimir Putin, George W. Bush, and Bashar al-Assad.--Nicolai N. Petro, Professor of Political Science, University of Rhode Island In God's Diplomats, the chapters on the history of Vatican diplomacy in individual countries are a must-read for anyone trying to understand why the Vatican works the way it does.--Barb Fraze, International Editor, Catholic News Service Informative, insightful and entertaining, he has produced a page-turner that will shed much light and offer fresh perspective on parts of Pope Francis' ministry that have received too little attention. . . .If you read one book on Pope Francis and the Vatican this year, read this one!--Robert C. Micken, Editor in Chief, La Croix International This book is a must read for anyone wanting to understand the influence the papacy wields on global politics in the 21st century.--Christopher Lamb, Rome Correspondent, The Tablet

"Victor Gaetan expertly introduces readers to the history of this approach, and to how Pope Francis has employed it, in his book God's Diplomats. An experienced international correspondent, Gaetan bases his book on extensive interviews and research, including documents from the Vatican archives and from WikiLeaks.-- ""America Magazine"" God's Diplomats: Pope Francis, Vatican Diplomacy, and America's Armageddon is a welcome addition to the literature on the Holy See and it should not be missed, not only by scholars and a more general audience interested in the Holy See, but also by anyone interested in diplomacy and diplomatic negotiation in contemporary international relations.-- ""Where Peter Is"" Gaetan's book tells the story that Pope Francis and Holy See diplomats themselves do not in a combination of accessible, novel-like prose and meticulous research (including 117 pages of endnotes). The award-winning journalist has reported on Vatican diplomacy for over 20 years, and in God's Diplomats he tells all.-- ""Los Angeles Review of Books"" [God's Diplomats is] a mix of impartial description and informed opinion. Not everyone will agree with how different issues are framed, or how different figures are portrayed. But what certainly cannot be argued with is the fact that Gaetan has given a gift not only to foreign policy practitioners, but also to American Catholics. You will not find a book on Church diplomacy as accessible, comprehensive, and faithful, as God's Diplomats. It is a must read for anyone interested in understanding the Vatican's diplomatic priorities better -- and especially why they don't always align with America's.-- ""National Catholic Register"" God's Diplomats will appeal to many audiences. It is a must read for secular diplomats and Church leaders at every level engaged with the Church's diplomatic efforts. It should also be required reading for trained diplomats. In-the-pew Catholics and other people of goodwill will find it affirming of the positive role that religion can play in the public square.--Stephen M. Colecchi, Former Director of the Office of International Justice and Peace of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop It's a fascinating read, well written, widely sourced, with over a hundred pages of endnotes. It is also a sympathetic view of the Church's involvement in world diplomacy, with particular emphasis on recent hotspots. I recommend it most highly.--Dwight G. Duncan, Professor at UMass School of Law Dartmouth History proved the Vatican to be correct when it warned the United States that going to war against Iraq would unleash mayhem. But how could the Church predict such an outcome? In this tour de force work of history, Victor Gaetan demonstrates how invaluable is the Vatican's worldwide diplomatic network, a veritable intelligence gathering machine. Iraq is just one example in Gaetan's book, in which he shows how the Church's well-established diplomacy infrastructure can serve as a force for world peace.--John Burger, News Editor, Aleteia Informative, insightful and entertaining, he has produced a page-turner that will shed much light and offer fresh perspective on parts of Pope Francis' ministry that have received too little attention. . . .If you read one book on Pope Francis and the Vatican this year, read this one!--Robert C. Mickens, Editor in Chief, La Croix International Victor Gaetan's God's Diplomats will make a valuable contribution to writings about Holy See diplomacy.--Ambassador Francis Rooney, Former US Ambassador to the Holy See (2005-08) and former Congressman from Florida (2017-2021); Author of Global Diplomat: An Inside Look at the Catholic Church, World Politics, and the Extraordinary Relationship between the United States and the Holy See I'm so impressed by the meticulousness of the research, the breathtaking pace at which Victor Gaetan guides the reader in God's Diplomats through one of the most complex labyrinths on earth (which constantly made me feel I was reading a great spy novel), and the deep faith reflected in his careful historical analysis.--Carlos Eire, author of Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions of a Cuban Boy and winner of the 2003 National Book Award Illuminating, entertaining, and inspiring, God's Diplomats is a major contribution to contemporary literature on Catholicism, international relations and the Francis pontificate.--Austen Ivereigh, author of The Great Reformer: Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope Gaetan's book fills a space never covered: by John Allen [renowned American Vaticanista], former Ambassadors, or Italian authors on the Holy See and diplomacy. Gaetan explains how and why the Vatican diplomatic corps works well and should be a model to US diplomacy.--James F. Creagan, US Ambassador/Professor of International Diplomacy, St. Mary University I expect God's Diplomats will become a standard reference for scholars of the role of religion in international affairs, and benefit anyone who wishes to understand the impact of Vatican diplomacy, and its surprising ability to alter the views of world leaders as diverse as Vladimir Putin, George W. Bush, and Bashar al-Assad.--Nicolai N. Petro, Professor of Political Science, University of Rhode Island In God's Diplomats, the chapters on the history of Vatican diplomacy in individual countries are a must-read for anyone trying to understand why the Vatican works the way it does.--Barb Fraze, International Editor, Catholic News Service This book is a must read for anyone wanting to understand the influence the papacy wields on global politics in the 21st century.--Christopher Lamb, Rome Correspondent, The Tablet"

Gaetan's book fills a space never covered: by John Allen [renowned American Vaticanista], former Ambassadors, or Italian authors on the Holy See and diplomacy. Gaetan explains how and why the Vatican diplomatic corps works well and should be a model to US diplomacy.--James F. Creagan, US Ambassador/Professor of International Diplomacy, St. Mary University I expect God's Diplomats will become a standard reference for scholars of the role of religion in international affairs, and benefit anyone who wishes to understand the impact of Vatican diplomacy, and its surprising ability to alter the views of world leaders as diverse as Vladimir Putin, George W. Bush, and Bashar al-Assad.--Nicolai N. Petro, Professor of Political Science, University of Rhode Island In God's Diplomats, the chapters on the history of Vatican diplomacy in individual countries are a must-read for anyone trying to understand why the Vatican works the way it does.--Barb Fraze, International Editor, Catholic News Service Informative, insightful and entertaining, he has produced a page-turner that will shed much light and offer fresh perspective on parts of Pope Francis' ministry that have received too little attention. . . .If you read one book on Pope Francis and the Vatican this year, read this one!--Robert C. Micken, Editor in Chief, La Croix International This book is a must read for anyone wanting to understand the influence the papacy wields on global politics in the 21st century.--Christopher Lamb, Rome Correspondent, The Tablet

Author Information

Victor Gaetan is senior international correspondent for the National Catholic Register and a contributor to Foreign Affairs magazine, the Washington Examiner, America, and The American Spectator. He resides in Washington, DC.

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