Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the Council of Europe
{{Short description|Diplomatic post of the Holy See}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the Council of Europe
| nominator = Pope of the Catholic Church
| incumbent = Marco Ganci
| formation = {{date and age|1970|03|07}}
}}
The Council of Europe granted observer status to the Holy See on 7 March 1970, having maintained a lesser relationship since 1962,{{cite web | access-date = 17 July 2019 | url = https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/holy-see | title = Holy See / Observer State | website = The Council of Europe}} when the Apostolic Nuncio to Belgium was given the additional title Apostolic Delegate to the Council for Cultural Cooperation of the Council of Europe.{{cite journal| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=PAQ5AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA477 | access-date = 4 July 2019 | pages= 476–7 | language = it | journal = La Civiltà Cattolica |date= 5 December 1970 |volume=121 | issue = 2891| title = Azione per la Pace e per lo Sviluppo }}{{efn|The Holy See signed the
European Cultural Convention on 10 December 1962.{{cite book | page= 200 | chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ADdo98pyUFsC&pg=PA200 | title = A Theology for Europe: The Churches and the European Institutions | editor-first = James | editor-last = Barnett | date= 2005 | publisher = Peter Lang Publishing | chapter = Perceptions of the Churches by the European Institutions |first= Michael | last = Vorbeck |isbn = 9783039105052}}}}
In 1970, the Holy See established a diplomatic relationship with the European Economic Community and on 10 November appointed Archbishop Eugenio Cardinale{{efn|Cardinale was named Nuncio to Belgium on 19 April 1969 and the assignments to the European Economic Community and the Council of Europe were additional responsibilities.}} as Nuncio to the Common Market. He was given a second charge and title as "special envoy and permanent representative to the Council of Europe, the European consultative assembly in Strasbourg".{{cite news| work =New York Times | access-date = 22 June 2019 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1970/11/11/archives/vatican-establishes-ties-with-the-common-market.html | date= 11 November 1970 | title = Vatican Establishes Ties With the Common Market }} The nature and status of that position has evolved as the Vatican explored how best to manage its relationship with such international bodies and how to integrate such positions into its traditional hierarchy of representatives, delegates, and nuncios. Until 2019, Cardinale's successors representing the Holy See to the Council were not bishops, nor did they have the title nuncio or other responsibilities. Bressan in 1983 was named "Special Envoy" to the Council, and his successors were named "Special Envoy with the role of Permanent Observer" until the simpler formula was adopted in 2004: "Special Envoy, Permanent Representative".{{efn|In 2019, Pope Francis gave Paolo Rudelli, the permanent observer since 2014, the title of nuncio and set in motion his ordination as a bishop,{{cite press release | access-date = 3 September 2019 | date= 3 September 2019 | url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2019/09/03/190903c.html | title = Resignations and Appointments, 03.09.2019 | publisher = Holy See Press Office}} but Rudelli was replaced as permanent observer before being ordained bishop, leaving the status of the permanent observer unchanged.}}
Full membership in the Council is likely precluded by the Holy See's lack of democracy and human rights guarantees.{{cite book | access-date = 18 July 2019 | page= 409 |first= Jorri C. | last = Duursma | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=CgVDprXjkIYC&pg=PA409 | title = Fragmentation and the International Relations of Micro-states: Self-determination and Statehood | date = 1986 | publisher = Cambridge University Press | isbn= 9780521563604 }} In 2007, the Holy See described its role vis-à-vis international organizations:{{cite book| page= 35 | chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=NUR0rE0ry-cC&pg=PA35 | title= Parliamentary Assembly - Working Papers- 2008 Ordinary Session 21-25 January 2008: First Part | access-date = 18 July 2019 | date= 2008 | publisher = Council of Europe | chapter = Comments from the Holy See, 7 December 2007|isbn = 9789287164261}}
{{Quote|In accordance with its special character and mission, the Holy See ... acts as an admonishing ethical force, encouraging [the international organization] to respect, in their policies, principles of justice and solidarity which make for peaceful coexistence and co-operation between peoples. Its character is manifest in what it is, and also in what it does.}}
It successfully argued that the Council’s review of observer states recognize its "special mission" and remove language that said "Its lack of democratic institutions and its position on certain human rights matters makes [sic] it a special case".{{cite book| page= 25 | chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=NUR0rE0ry-cC&pg=PA25 | title= Parliamentary Assembly - Working Papers- 2008 Ordinary Session 21-25 January 2008: First Part | access-date = 18 July 2019 | date= 2008 | publisher = Council of Europe | chapter= Amendment No. 22, 22 January 2008 |isbn = 9789287164261}}
;Permanent Observers
- Eugenio Cardinale (10 November 1970 – 24 March 1983){{cite news | work = New York Times | access-date = 23 June 2019 | date= 26 March 1983| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1983/03/26/obituaries/archbishop-igino-cardinale.html | title= Archbishop Igino Cardinale}}
- Luigi Bressan (12 February 1983 – 3 April 1989){{cite news | url = http://www.giornaletrentino.it/cronaca/trento/gli-auguri-di-bressan-felice-per-la-nomina-1.1264758? | access-date = 27 June 2019 | title = Gli auguri di Bressan: 'Felice per la nomina' | date = 11 February 2016 | work = Giornale Trentino | language = it}}
- Carlo Maria Viganò (14 April 1989{{cite press release|access-date=22 June 2019 | language =it|url =http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2009/07/16/0478/01128.html | date= 16 July 2009|title= Rinunce e Nomine, 16.07.2009| publisher = Holy See Press Office }} – 3 April 1992)
- Celestino Migliore (14 April 1992{{cite press release|access-date=22 June 2019 | language =it|url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2002/10/30/0536/01689.html| date= 30 October 2002 |title= Rinunce e Nomine, 30.10.2002| publisher = Holy See Press Office }} – 21 December 1995)
- Michael Courtney (30 December 1995 – 18 August 2000)
- Paul Gallagher (18 August 2000{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = 26 June 2019 | url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2000/08/18/0486/01696.html | language = it | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 18.08.2000 | date= 18 August 2000 }} – 22 January 2004){{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = 31 May 2019 | url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2004/01/22/0030/00103.html | language = it | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 22.01.2004 | date= 22 January 2004 }}
- Vito Rallo (27 January 2004{{cite press release|publisher=Holy See Press Office |access-date = 23 June 2019| url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2004/01/27/0041/00133.html |language= it| title = Rinunce e Nomine, 27.01.2004 | date = 27 January 2004}} – 12 June 2007){{cite press release|publisher=Holy See Press Office |access-date = 23 June 2019| url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2007/06/12/0319/00854.html |language= it | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 12.06.2007 | date = 12 June 2007}}
- Aldo Giordano (7 June 2008{{cite press release|publisher=Holy See Press Office |access-date = 23 June 2019| url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2008/06/07/0383/00899.html |language= it| title = Rinunce e Nomine, 07.06.2008 | date = 7 June 2008}} – 26 October 2013){{cite press release |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2013/10/26/0695/01556.html |title=Rinunce e nomine, 26.10.2013 |publisher=Holy See Press Office |date=26 October 2013 |access-date=30 September 2014}}
- Paolo Rudelli (20 September 2014.{{cite press release|access-date=22 June 2019 | language =it|url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2014/09/20/0651/01459.html| date= 20 September 2014 |title= Rinunce e Nomine, 20.08.2014| publisher = Holy See Press Office }} – 21 September 2019)
- Marco Ganci (21 September 2019 – present){{cite press release|access-date=21 September 2019 | url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2019/09/21/190921c.html| date= 21 September 2019 |title= Rinunce e Nomine, 21.09.2019| publisher = Holy See Press Office }}
See also
Notes
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References
{{Reflist}}
{{Foreign relations of the Holy See}}
{{Holy See}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the Council of Europe}}