Vatican Review

On a sunny Tuesday, July 16, we had the honor of visiting the Embassy of the Holy See, a trip that we have been looking forward to for quite some time. Situated on the outskirts of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Embassy of the Holy See was one of the largest embassies we have visited thus far. The quartz structure and luxurious garden reminded us of a mansion, a befitting title for such a grand embassy. Another interesting feature was that the embassy hid behind a large gate guarded by several security guards. 

When we rang the bell and were admitted to the entrance, acting Apostolic Nuncio Fernando Reis greeted us and welcomed us to the embassy. The interior was even more luxurious than we expected: glass sculptures expanded throughout the entire breadth of the ceiling, and multiple artistic structures could be seen throughout the embassy. We were pleasantly surprised and awestruck. Once we were settled in the large conference room, the interview began. 

We had the opportunity to ask Msgr. Reis about the difference between the Holy See and the Vatican government—a subject we were highly curious about. Aware that many people mistake one for the other, Msgr. Reis explained that the Vatican itself is a city-state enclaved within Rome, with a portion of the land constituting the official headquarters of the Pope. However, the Holy See consists of all the supreme figures within the Holy Catholic Church, with the Pope being the supreme authority over the global network of Catholic churches. Etymologically, “see” refers to a “chair” of authority, and “holy” denotes “saint.”Thus, “Holy See” roughly translates to “the chair where the father sits.” As it pertains to the Apostolic Nunciature, while many call it the Vatican Embassy, in reality, it is the embassy of the Holy See. 

The Apostolic Nunciature plays a significant role in facilitating bilateral relations between Korea and the Vatican. In addition to relaying messages from the Korean clergy to the Holy See and the Pope, they also aid the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea (CBCK) in hosting and facilitating various events, such as World Youth Day–a massive gathering of young Catholics lasting around 4-5 days filled with workshops and events. 

On a final note, Msgr. Reis offered practical advice for those aspiring to become diplomats. According to him, taking the role of a diplomat is contingent upon curiosity, ambition, and keeping an open mind. Therefore, aspiring diplomats must be open to differences, particularly ones that pertain to culture. He also stressed the necessity of speaking multiple languages. Msgr. Reis is quite the seasoned polyglot himself, as he can fluently speak Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, English, French, Romanian, and a bit of German as a cherry on top. For all aspiring leaders, this is a sign to take language courses seriously! 

We would like to express our deepest gratitude toward Msgr. Reis and the Apostolic Nunciature to South Korea for the insightful interview!