Der Heilige Stuhl und die Pariser Friedensordnung von 1919/20

Abstract

Since the time of Pope Leo XIII the Holy See had tried to promote a peacekeeping policy and to ease the tension ofinternational conflicts. The resulting political and moral prestige of the Holy See at the international level wouldhave compensated for the lost church state. Among the most important demands were the institution of courts ofarbitration and of supranational organizations, which were also proposed by Pope Benedict XV during the FirstWorld War. The Peace Note of August, 1st 1917 was in his eyes the most significant measure of his policy, but itwas not really successful internationally. As a result of the secret agreements of the London treaty, Italy hinderedthe Holy See from participating in the post-war negotiations. The papal diplomacy was forced to use other instruments,like lobbying. The Holy See was not allowed to become a member of the League of Nations either, althoughPope Benedict held this institution in high regard. Generally, the Holy See judged the Paris peace settlement rathernegatively, because according to the Roman Curia peace had not been established on the basis of conciliation, but asa peace dictated by the Allies.