Archbishop Paul Gallagher: Diplomacy means talking to all sides

“Diplomacy is about talking to lots of people with whom you don't agree. And that's what diplomats do. And I think we would do that... The Vatican has always had very little difficulty, perhaps too little difficulty, in dealing with all sorts of political actors, all sorts regimes, all sorts of political systems.”

Julie Etchingham speaks to Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations and one of the Catholic Church’s more senior diplomats.

The 72 year old, who was born and brought up in Liverpool, was appointed to the post in 2014 by Pope Francis and is frequently referred to as the Vatican's foreign minister.

Although a tiny city state, the Vatican has significant reach and influence on the world stage, being a permanent observer at the United Nations and having diplomatic relations with 184 countries. Its diplomats pursue a policy of ‘positive neutrality’ - supposedly an impartial moral authority which allows it to dialogue with all sides.

With no signs of various geopolitical tensions subsiding, the Archbishop’s role in navigating these instabilities on behalf of the more than 1.4 billion Catholics around the world has arguably never been more important.

Thank you to the Sunday team for their help in making this programme. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with the Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally, former California Governor Jerry Brown, and Princess Diana’s brother Earl Spencer. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presenter: Julie Etchingham Producers: Catherine Murray and Ben Cooper Editor: Farhana Haider

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(Image: Archbishop Paul Gallagher. Credit: Getty)