The Caucasus has been the object of diplomatic engagement and pastoral care by Benedict XV. The Holy See of Benedict showed a growing interest in the events of the Caucasus, despite it was a peripheral territory compared to the “Great Game” of the Empires, a marginal area in relation to European geopolitics, a region where Catholic influence was scarce. Contacts with the Georgian orthodox patriarchate, diplomatic relations and attention to the small Catholic minority were the fields of action in which the Catholic Church of Pope Della Chiesa moved. The essay analyzes the relationships between the Holy See and Georgia starting from the documentation of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. In this context, the documents relating to the White father Antoine Delpuch’s mission in the Southern Caucasus are particularly important not only at an ecclesiastical level, but also as a witness of the events occurred in the region during the short existence of the independent Georgian State, the Democratic Republic of Georgia.
Merlo, S. (2017). Benedetto XV e il Caucaso. In Benedetto XV: Papa Giacomo Della Chiesa nel mondo dell'"inutile strage" (pp.781-790). Bologna : Il Mulino.
Benedetto XV e il Caucaso
MERLO, SIMONA
2017-01-01
Abstract
The Caucasus has been the object of diplomatic engagement and pastoral care by Benedict XV. The Holy See of Benedict showed a growing interest in the events of the Caucasus, despite it was a peripheral territory compared to the “Great Game” of the Empires, a marginal area in relation to European geopolitics, a region where Catholic influence was scarce. Contacts with the Georgian orthodox patriarchate, diplomatic relations and attention to the small Catholic minority were the fields of action in which the Catholic Church of Pope Della Chiesa moved. The essay analyzes the relationships between the Holy See and Georgia starting from the documentation of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. In this context, the documents relating to the White father Antoine Delpuch’s mission in the Southern Caucasus are particularly important not only at an ecclesiastical level, but also as a witness of the events occurred in the region during the short existence of the independent Georgian State, the Democratic Republic of Georgia.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.