Vatikan und die Weltnachrichten 13. Juli 2026

Laudetur Jesus Christus, hier ist Radio Vatikan, unser Nachrichtenmagazin. Heute mit diesen Themen. Der Papst spricht immer als Seelsorger. Wenn die Diplomatie versagt, beginnen Kriege. Und Auftakt zu unserer Sommerserie mit Johannes Paul II. Herzlich willkommen zu unserem Nachrichtenmagazin. An diesem Montag heißt sie Gudrun Seiler.

Auch wenn er über Krieg und Frieden spricht, über die Aufnahme von Migranten oder darüber, wie man im Zeitalter der künstlichen Intelligenz menschlich bleibt, der Nachfolger Petri äußert sich stets als ein geistlicher Führer und nicht als Politiker oder Staatsoberhaupt.

This is emphasized by the chief editor of Vatican News, Andrea Tornielli, today in a news article. What is behind it? I ask my colleague Stefan Kempis. Yes, so Tornielli, an important opinion maker in the Vatican, emphasizes that the Pope, despite the power of the Lateran Contracts of 1929,

is also ruler of the smallest state in the world, but this not even half a square kilometer Vatican state means by no means that a pope acts as a politician or expresses himself as a politician.

when it comes to topics that concern the fate of mankind. So Tognelli wants to prevent the pope from being perceived primarily as a head of state among many others on the international stage.

Why is this clarification coming from the Vatican right now? This is not directly acceptable to the article, but one could imagine that it has something to do with the statements of the US ambassador at the Holy Stool. Last week he said to journalists, I quote: "If the pope speaks of peace and migrants, then he speaks as the head of state of the Vatican state." End of quote.

So you can interpret this as if the position of the pope would be somewhat relativized according to the motto: "This is just a political opinion that comes from the head of state of a tiny state."

Das hört sich so an, als wäre das eine Neurunde im verbalen Tauziehen zwischen der Regierung von Donald Trump und Papst Leo? Naja, vielleicht darf man das auch nicht überbetonen. Der Papst hat immerhin am letzten Samstagabend den US-Botschafter in seiner Residenz besucht.

and with the family of the ambassador the 250th Independence Day of the United States, the home of the pope. And with that, Leo, of course, if you will, took a step towards Trump. But on the morning of the same day, on Saturday, the pope had visited the refugee island Lampedusa in front of Sicily. And in doing so, he made a very clear appeal for a human relationship with migrants and refugees. And

And this appeal is aimed at the entire world of states and also at the USA. So I can imagine that the Vatican is concerned that the clarity of this appeal is not somehow being relativized. Now, is the pope really a head of state? As such, he will always receive military honors when traveling abroad. Yes, that's right. But the Vatican state is, as Tonielli says in his headline, "just a tiny piece of land."

And the Pope was not allowed to do so in 1929 to make him a state governor, but Tangeli writes, it is a convention to recognize the independence, the necessity of independence from any other state. So the goal was not to give the Pope a double mission, so on the one hand head of state and on the other hand church leader.

To this end, Tonelli wrote in words: "Every overstatement, every overestimation of the role of the Pope as head of state, every promotion of the importance of this role is misleading.

that it harms his own mission as a universal hurdle. The Pope from the USA always expresses himself very decisively, also on topics from the political area, protecting life, ending competition, negotiating instead of war, treating migrants humanly. These are just a few examples, all just expressions of a soul-sorger and not of a state chief.

Eindeutig ja, also jedenfalls wenn es nach dem Vatikan und wenn es nach Tornielli geht. Der Vatikan, Vatican News, Chefredakteur, schreibt dazu, der Papst verkündet ganz einfach das Evangelium. Vielen Dank, Stefan von Kempe, den Leitartikel von Andrea Tornielli gibt es zum Nachlesen auf unserer Webseite www.vaticannews.de.

When diplomacy fails, wars begin. Emil Brix is convinced of this. The former Austrian ambassador to Great Britain and Russia, as well as director of the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna, speaks in the summer conversation of our partner radio classic Stefanstum about what diplomacy means.

and also about which peace messages popes send out in times of war. Ambassador Briggs, I would like to confront you with a quote that you certainly know. It comes from Friedrich the Great and says, Diplomacy without weapons is like music without instruments. Can you gain something from it? Friedrich the Great can always gain something, because the diplomat actually needs support through what we do.

normally call "hard power". It can be military, it can be economic power, it can be raw materials, it can be pipelines, all that needs a diplomat. He is lost alone. Because he is basically just someone who carries on a message. That's why it's called that way. The message that someone who has the power should be brought to someone else. And you need

People in between. In earlier times, even Sigismund von Herberstein was researched a bit, who was an Austrian ambassador in the 16th century, a Habsburg ambassador, and was on his way to Moscow to create peace there and to see that he had allies and the Tsar at that time. And he took half a year.

until he came to Poland. Because he was there on horseback and on the way there he should have fought a few other wars in Poland and so on. That means the ambassador is basically the one who has to make sure that the powerful come together. That is of course the best in the positive sense. But now you can also say

If the diplomatic path fails, wars begin. Yes, that's right. That's why you have to prepare for such situations. It's not enough to have as many people in a embassy as possible to get information about what's happening internationally. You also need something like that, and I take the bad word, especially with you, in the mouth, you need intimidation. Intimidation means nothing more than the other thing. You have to...

especially militarily, a little stronger than the opponent so that he doesn't come up with the idea of starting a war. The problem is that he then says to himself: "Aha, they are a little stronger militarily than me, that means I have to equip them. I have to be a little stronger too." There you come into a spiral that ultimately

Yes, that is the task of the diplomat to ensure that this spiral does not arise, but that one says: "Okay, we understand that one must defend oneself for one's own security, that is, militarily also must be ready to defend oneself, but also the people must be ready to defend themselves for their own society, but it must be in a situation that cannot automatically lead to a war situation or must. That is a core task of the diplomat.

The whole conversation with Ambassador Emil Briggs is on Radio Classic Stephansdom, this evening at 7 p.m.

Germany. The so-called Eichstätter bishop Christian Würz is awaiting further debates about the infidelity of priests. Asked about a possible easing of the compulsory celibacy, Würz said to the Bayerische Rundfunk, »We must weigh this very carefully. What do we give up if we give up the compulsory celibacy and what do we win? That will certainly be a question that will still concern us a lot in the near future.«

würz also expressed his opinion on the synodal way a reform project of the catholic church in germany a bishop has above all the task of being a servant of unity that is important to me said the bishop

that one does not lose one's way in the battle of the wings but that one always looks at what is actually the connecting and the central thing in terms of synodality it is important to listen to each other to learn from each other and not to set one's own opinion absolutely from the beginning so the future bishop of eichstätt

Austria. Women should no longer be just a topic of church advice, but can also take on responsibility. This was underlined by the synod expert and theologian Clara Cisar at an event of the network "Women lead Church" on Friday. "Women should also take on leadership tasks in the church so that they can make decisions," said the dean and vice-rector of the Catholic Private University of Linz.

who was one of the most prominent theological experts of the world synods in 2023 and 2024. From her experiences in the synodal process, Csizart reported about a church that is changing world-wide, step by step.

Germany, Austria

the lifestyle in an orderly community increases the life expectancy of men in a measurable way and almost completely balances out the biological and social gender gap this is shown by the long-term results of the german-austerich monastery study led by demographer mark louis

as a pillar for the longevity of ordnancemen his study identifies life in the community the regular daily routine of work and prayer as a clear spiritual transmission

the community seemed to stabilize similarly to a marriage a regulated diet and social control in the convent led to a healthier lifestyle with less smoke or addiction problems as luey reported from the institute for demography of the austrian academy of sciences

eu at the beginning of the irish eu council of the president a coalition of more than one hundred and seventy christian organizations is demanding that the irish government establish climate justice and protection of creation in the centre of the european agenda

The appeal of the Alliance Laudato Si', which represents more than 33 million Christians and Christians in 21 EU member states, bears the title "Europe should be true to our common home". It warns that the desire of Europe for competitive ability should not go at the expense of social cohesion, climate protection, rural development or even human dignity.

High-ranking church representatives called for an appointment with the Irish head of government Michael Martin in Dublin. The churches are certainly supporting the EU's efforts to strengthen competitiveness.

but the expected economic growth would still have to rely on solidarity, ecological responsibility and the consideration of human dignity. Great Britain: If the Labour politician Andy Burnham becomes the foreseeable new British Prime Minister, he would be the first British head of government who has belonged to the Catholic Church since his childhood and has also practised it.

the catholic church in the united kingdom of god thus combines hope with behavior church representatives do not expect a fundamental political change but see the possibility that the catholic social doctrine could reflect itself more strongly in political action

Burnham, as a Labour politician, part of the middle-left spectrum, is committed to state education, social services, the tax system and housing. In matters such as life protection and homosexual rights, however, he is of a liberal attitude. Italy. Museums and cultural facilities in Europe's leading cultural country, Italy, should become more barrier-free and energetically sustainable. This is reported by the Catholic newspaper Avvenire.

The Italian government has provided 300 million euros for both projects. One goal is to implement the EU requirements for barrier freedom in the cultural institutions of the country by 2030. Barrier freedom includes not only construction measures, but also better signage, a simpler language and the use of digital means of help.

Deutschland. In ihrem Einsatz für Frieden und Gerechtigkeit können Christen und Juden, nach Worten des Vorsitzenden der katholischen Deutschen Bischofskonferenz, an einem Strang ziehen. Angesichts von Kriegen, gesellschaftlicher Polarisierung und zunehmendem Antisemitismus gelte es, Räume des Dialogs offen zu halten und gemeinsam Verantwortung für Frieden, Gerechtigkeit und Versöhnung zu übernehmen. Das betonte der Bischof von Münster, Heiner Wilmer, am Sonntag in den sozialen Medien.

The Jewish-Christian dialogue was an example that even after the most difficult historical burdens, trust could grow again. Out of distrust, devaluation and distance, in recent years, especially since the declaration of the Council of the Nostra Aetate, whose 60th anniversary we were allowed to celebrate last year, friendship, understanding and trust have grown again, says Wilmer.

with regard to current anti-semitism he emphasized the increasing hostilities and threats against jews in germany and the world fill me with great concern and make more than once clear how inevitable growth solidarity and a decisive entrance remain

The Salzburg Archbishop and Chairman of the Austrian Bishops' Conference Franz Lackner celebrates his 70th birthday on Tuesday. The Linzer Diocesan Bishop Manfred Scheuer on this occasion honors the jubilee on behalf of the Austrian bishops with a congratulatory letter as a humble and dialogue-oriented clergyman and he thanked him at the same time for his renewed willingness to take over as chairman of the Bishops' Conference.

Lackner was first elected to this office in 2020 and was confirmed for a second office time in June 2026. Bishop Scheuer is his deputy. According to Scheuer, Lackner's origin and professional career were particularly characteristic as an electrician, craftsman and professional soldier. These experiences had grounded him and promoted his understanding of the office as a service.

The clerical self-portrait was strange to Archbishop Lackner, but it also shows his great closeness to people, says the Lenz bishop. We invite our summer series of 2026 today. It includes Pope John Paul II, whom we will have to come to the word with excerpts from the preachings in German in July and August. With Pope John Paul II through the summer.

Christ calls us to take up life, choose life, care for life in the family, enjoy children, enjoy creation, love and care for creation, open your hearts and hands for the needy and lonely,

for the sick and the underprivileged. Give good food to the people of your spiritual life. Be a righteous person. Take measure of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and brother. Follow him. Proclaim this Christ to the church

and is so the most reliable lawyer of all people.

You can find more news from Rome on our free WhatsApp info channel and of course on our multimedia website vaticannews.de. There you can find all our articles to read and hear, as well as a handful of papal videos. And real papal videos. Many fake videos are being broadcasted online about Judas the 14th. Stay with us at Vatican News.

Gudrun Seiler says thank you for listening. This is Radio Vatican. Laudetur Jesus Christ.