From Russia to the Vatican

Mission to the Vatican: diplomats find unique challenges at Holy See

Anne Leahy, Canada's ambassador to the Vatican, talks about her work during a discussion at the Caravita oratory in Rome Nov. 2. The Holy See has full diplomatic relations with 179 countries. The ambassadors of 80 of the nations live in Rome.

Ambassadors to the Holy See resident in Rome are a relatively small group of women and men with backgrounds ranging from professional diplomacy and politics to medicine and even theology: Catholic, Orthodox, or Islamic.