Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has emphasized that the true essence of Vatican diplomacy lies not in power or prestige, but in the humble service that allows the light of Christ to shine through. Speaking on the 160th anniversary of the birth of the Servant of God, Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val, the Pope reflected on the late prelate’s life of quiet dedication and spiritual depth.

The Holy Father met on Monday with a group associated with Cardinal Merry del Val, who was born in London in 1865 to a Spanish diplomat father and an English mother. The Pope described the Cardinal as “a docile instrument in the diplomatic service of the Holy See during a time marked by great challenges,” recalling how his background in multiple cultures gave him a profound sense of the Church’s universality.

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