2023/10/27 by Bryan Kelly · 1 voice
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · #American Constitutional Law and Politics #Religion and Society Interactions #War, Ethics, and Justification
paper · pdf · doi:10.1017/s175504832300024x
openalex publication_date 2023/10/27 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
Abstract This paper examines the Holy See as a political actor amid hard power conflict. While many debate the legal and religious personalities of the Holy See, few engage with an approach that illustrates the Holy See and its citizen-like laity in light of its combinative religious–political dynamic. This paper argues that resulting from this dynamic, the Holy See's sui generis statehood enables the comprehension of a similar sui generis citizenry. These citizens, which this paper labels pseudo-citizens, are the result of connections between the recognized sovereignty of the Holy See and its role over the Roman Catholic Church. This paper examines this connection contextually amid the Holy See's interaction with the underlying international moral framework on just conflict and the protective motivating factors associated with its pseudo-citizens. This motivation is consistent with historical Holy See positions, and is significant for understanding the Holy See's approach amid future hard power events.