Purpose of Vatican diplomatic activity.

Vatican City -- In an earlier address (Jan. 14, 2003) the Vatican explained that the diplomatic corps of the Holy See does not merely issue statements on international issues. Most of its work is done with the individual governments with which it maintains relations.

The primary objective of these relations is to defend freedom of worship, sometimes recognized in individual countries through concordats or Church-state agreements. As more countries recognize the general principle of religious liberty, the Vatican has become the champion of the rights of all believers, not just of Catholics.

In this respect, the Holy See achieved a great success in the 1960s by having the principle of religious liberty recognized by the Communist countries which then lay behind the "Iron Curtain."

The Holy See now maintains diplomatic relations with 177 countries, double the number since the beginning (1978) of the pontificate of John Paul II. Notable holdouts are China, Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia.

At present the Vatican holds permanent observer status at the United Nations. While some radical elements would like to see it dismissed to the outer darkness, other international officials, impressed by its record in defence of peace and human rights, have suggested it become a full member of the organization. This would confer voting rights in U.N. decisions. The Holy See itself is open to this possibility, but any change in its status would have to be first approved by the Security Council before being accepted by the U.N. General Assembly.

Beatification of Mother Teresa

Rome - Mother Teresa of Calcutta's beatification is scheduled for October 19. On that date the Church will celebrate three events: World Missions Day, the closing of the year of the Rosary, and the 25th anniversary of John Paul II's pontificate, for which all the cardinals of the Church have been invited to Rome.

In 1946 Jesus invited Mother Teresa to "Come, be my light in the darkness of human poverty, in a world darkened by sin and misery." Some of Mother Teresa's relics will be displayed for veneration by the faithful in the Basilica of St. John Lateran, October 20-22, 2003.

Also moving closer to beatification are the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux, Louis and Zelie Martin, with the recognition of the inexplicable cure of a child. The Holy See has also taken a decisive step toward the beatification of Charles I, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary, the last monarch (1916) of the Austro-Hungarian Empire which collapsed in 1918. It has proclaimed his "heroic virtues," stating that "he fostered justice and peace, and nourished a constant yearning for holiness."