Abstract
The chapter addresses a topic at the intersection of macro-structures defined by the differentiation of the global field of world religions and the micro-structures of individual Christian subjectivities. It looks at how modern popes have used pilgrimages to the Middle East in order to foster the standing of Christianity in the region. It focuses on papal diplomacy and the modern form of pilgrimages as a political tool. Based on the distinction between possession goals and milieu goals, the chapter studies practices and speeches by Benedict XVI and Francis during their Middle East pilgrimages. It highlights how these two “traveling popes” have made use of pilgrimages in order to foster possession and milieu goals, and how this shapes interreligious dialogue with Islam and the broader standing of the Roman Catholic Church in world society and its relationship with Christianity in the lands of the historical origin of Christianity.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Al Jazeera. 2012. Pope Benedict in Lebanon for Peace Visit. Al Jazeera, September 15. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/09/201291433858189620.html
Albert, Mathias. 2017. Beyond Integration and Differentiation? The Holy See and the Pope in the System of World Politics. The Review of Faith & International Affairs 15 (4): 21–30.
Allen, John L. 2012. Archbishop (Gently) Corrects Pope on Arab Spring. National Catholic Reporter, September 15. http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/archbishop-gently-corrects-pope-arab-spring
Barbato, Mariano. 2013. A State, a Diplomat, and a Transnational Church: The Multi-Layered Actorness of the Holy See. Perspectives 21 (2): 27–48.
———. 2016. Legionen des Papstes. Zeitschrift für Politikwissenschaft 26 (4): 375–396.
Benedict XVI. 2012a. Interview of the Holy Father Benedict XVI with the Journalists During the Flight to Lebanon, Papal Flight. Vatican, September 14. http://w2.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/speeches/2012/september/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20120914_incontro-giornalisti.html
———. 2012b. Ecclesia in Medio Oriente. Vatican, September 14. http://w2.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_ben-xvi_exh_20120914_ecclesia-in-medio-oriente.html
———. 2012c. Visit to St. Paul’s Basilica in Harrissa and Signing of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation: Address of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, Basilica of Saint Paul, Harissa. Vatican, September 14. http://w2.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/speeches/2012/september/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20120914_firma-es-ap.html
———. 2012d. Meeting with Members of the Government, Institutions of the Republic, the Diplomatic Corps, Religious Leaders and Representatives of the World of Culture: Address of the Holy Father, May 25th Hall of the Baabda Presidential Palace. Vatican, September 15. http://w2.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/speeches/2012/september/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20120915_autorita.html
———. 2012e. Meeting with Young People: Address of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, Square Across from the Maronite Patriarchate of Bkerké. Vatican, September 15. http://w2.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/speeches/2012/september/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20120915_giovani.html
———. 2012f. Farwell Ceremony: Address of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, Rafiq Hariri International Airport, Beirut. Vatican, September 16. http://w2.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/speeches/2012/september/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20120916_congedo-libano.html
Biallowons, Simon, and Paul Hinder. 2016. Als Bischof in Arabien: Erfahrungen mit dem Islam. Freiburg im Breisgau: Verlag Herder.
Brechenmacher, Thomas. 2005. Der Vatikan und die Juden: Geschichte einer unheiligen Beziehung. München: C.H. Beck.
Byrnes, Timothy A. 2017. Sovereignty, Supranationalism, and Soft Power: The Holy See in International Relations. The Review of Faith & International Affairs 15 (4): 6–20.
Cesari, Jocelyne. 2004. When Islam and Democracy Meet: Muslims in Europe and in the United States. New York: Palgrave.
———. 2014. The Awakening of Muslim democracy: Religion, Modernity, and the State. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Diez, Thomas. 2017. Diplomacy, Papacy, and the Transformation of International Society. The Review of Faith & International Affairs 15 (4): 31–38.
Francis. 2017a. Saluto del Santo Padre ai govani egiziani, Nunziatura, Il Cairo. Vatican, April 28. http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/it/speeches/2017/april/documents/papa-francesco_20170428_egitto-giovani.html
———. 2017b. Homily of Holiness Pope Francis, Air Defense Stadium, Cairo. Vatican, April 29. http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2017/documents/papa-francesco_20170429_omelia-viaggioapostolico-egitto.html
———. 2017c. Address of His Holiness Pope Francis to the Participants in the International Peace Conference, Al-Azhar Conference Center, Cairo. Vatican, April 28. http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2017/april/documents/papa-francesco_20170428_egitto-conferenza-pace.html
———. 2017d. Address of His Holiness Pope Francis to the Government Authorities and the Diplomatic Corps, Al Masah Hotel, Cairo. Vatican, April 28. http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2017/april/documents/papa-francesco_20170428_egitto-autorita.html
———. 2017e. Return Flight Press Conference of His Holiness Pope Francis from Egypt to Rome, Papal Flight. Vatican, April 29. http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2017/april/documents/papa-francesco_20170429_egitto-volo.html
Francis, and Tawadros II. 2017. Common Declaration, Cairo. April 28. http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2017/april/documents/papa-francesco_20170428_egitto-tawadros-ii.html#Common_Declaration
Gagliarducci, Andrea. 2013. The Church in the Middle East. Monday Vatican, August 19. http://www.mondayvatican.com/vatican/the-church-in-the-middle-east
Goldstein, Erik. 2008. The Politics of the State Visit. The Hague Journal of Diplomacy 3 (2): 153–178.
Hall, Rodney B. 1997. Moral Authority as a Power Resource. International Organization 51 (4): 591–622.
Hassner, Ron E. 2009. War on Sacred Grounds. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
Jenkins, John P. 2008. The Lost History of Christianity: The Thousand-Year Golden Age of the Church in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. New York: HarperCollins.
John Paul II. 1985. Address of His Holiness Pope John Paul II to young Muslim, Morocco. Vatican, August 19. https://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/speeches/1985/august/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_19850819_giovani-stadio-casablanca.html
Nye, Joseph S. 2004. Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics. New York: PublicAffairs.
O’Connell, Gerard. 2012. Pope Brought Arab Spring to the Oriental Churches. La Stampa, September 17. http://www.lastampa.it/2012/09/17/vaticaninsider/eng/world-news/pope-brought-arab-spring-to-the-oriental-churhes-d2WVEd2xODfwy0EcYkvDNO/pagina.html
Pacini, Andra, ed. 2011. Oltre la divisione. L’intuizione ecumenica e il dialogo interreligioso. Milano: Paoline.
Perthes, Volker. 2015. Das Ende des Nahen Ostens, wie wir ihn kennen: Ein Essay. Berlin: Suhrkamp.
Riley-Smith, Jonathan. 2008. The Crusades, Christianity, and Islam. New York: Columbia University Press.
Rocca, Francis X. 2012. Pope Says He Is a Pilgrim of Peace as He Arrives in Lebanon. Catholic Herald, September 14. http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2012/09/14/pope-says-he-is-a-pilgrim-of-peace-as-he-arrives-in-lebanon/
Ryall, David. 1998. How Many Divisions? The Modern Development of Catholic International Relations. International Relations 14 (2): 21–34.
Sherlock, Ruth. 2012. Pope Benedict XVI Meets Hezbollah MPs While Visiting Lebanon’s Political Leaders. The Telegraph, September 15. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/lebanon/9545470/Pope-Benedict-XVI-meets-Hezbollah-MPs-while-visiting-Lebanons-political-leaders.html
Stetter, Stephan. 2008. World Society and the Middle East: Reconstructions in Regional Politics. New York: Palgrave.
Troy, Jodok. 2010. Die Soft Power des Heiligen Stuhls: Unsichtbare Legionen zwischen internationaler Gesellschaft und Weltgesellschaft. Zeitschrift für Außen-und Sicherheitspolitik 3 (4): 489–451.
Weigel, George. 1999. Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II. New York: HarperCollins.
Wolfers, Arnold. 1965. Discord and Collaboration: Essays on International Politics. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Barbato, M.P. (2020). Pilgrim Popes: How the Catholic Church Makes a Difference in World Society and the Middle East. In: Stetter, S., Moussa Nabo, M. (eds) Middle East Christianity. The Modern Muslim World. Palgrave Pivot, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37011-4_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37011-4_7
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Pivot, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-37010-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-37011-4
eBook Packages: Political Science and International StudiesPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)