The Catholic Church as a Transnational Actor

Abstract

This chapter examines the Catholic Church — one of the oldest and largest transnational actors of all. Organized Catholicism has a uniquely wide range of groups within its structures, ranging from the smallest level of sub-parochial units through to missionary religious orders, such as the Jesuits, that can claim to be prototypes of globalization. With around one billion baptized Catholics and a presence in nearly every state the Church remains a major power within many societies; whilst the evangelizing impulse which is intrinsic to Christianity has left an enduring and dynamic legacy for the transmission of influence. That influence has often been seen in material terms, for example the Vatican’s long and bitter struggle for statehood that culminated in the Lateran treaties. However, the Church has usually regarded the formation of values, beliefs and culture as the key battleground — hence the enormous effort devoted to establishing Catholic schools, universities, newspapers, radio stations and political parties which would, in turn, secure a significant Catholic input into society. Much of that effort has traditionally been subcontracted out to religious orders, development agencies and the so-called ‘new movements’ such as the Focolare.

The Catholic Church is not confined to a particular territory and she has no geographical borders … it goes without saying that the Apostolic See has no thought or intention of failing to give due respect to the sovereign prerogatives of any state.

Pope John Paul II¹