Francis’ visit comes amid strong challenges to the church in the southern state, including huge inroads by evangelical Protestants and grinding poverty in a region rich with coffee, Mayan ruins, pine-covered hills and jungles. [...] The challenges have always included the church’s relations with indigenous communities who have struggled for centuries to maintain their traditions and independence, sometimes embracing and sometimes clashing with the hierarchy.

Pope Francis will receive in private audience Iranian President Hassan Rouhani tomorrow, the latest meeting in a flurry of Holy See diplomatic activity concerning the Middle East and China. […] The Pope and Holy See diplomats will probably try to use the occasion of Rouhani’s visit to help defuse tensions between the two Muslim-majority countries.

President Dr. Mulatu Teshome received US Baptist Church Convention delegation comprising five members at the National Palace here yesterday. The delegation assured the President that US is keen to strengthen people-to-people ties. In addition to ways of strengthening public diplomacy, the President also told the delegation about the favorable investment climate in the country and called for church followers to take advantage of existing opportunities.

The Vatican’s diplomatic corps is among the oldest in existence, with some of its bilateral relationships, such as with Spain, dating to the 15th century. More than once, people have questioned the need for the Vatican to have such a sovereign standing. Yet arguments in favor of the Vatican’s unique status are also abundant, including its track record for making a difference […]