Cardinal del Mestri was a Vatican diplomat who became an archbishop in 1961.

Standing alone, Vatican diplomats blocked a consensus on a formula sponsored by Pakistan, saying they found it unacceptable.

Vatican diplomats will point out with logic that such patience paid off in Poland.

As in Romania, "of particular concern to the Vatican diplomat" were the provisions pertaining to Catholic schools.

He had distinguished himself as a scholar and Vatican diplomat.

The United States, acting through the Vatican diplomats, agreed to those conditions, the official said.

Vatican diplomats also indicated that the debate over abortion was far from over.

Vatican diplomats criticized the king for hiring such a "revolutionary", but the king defended Piattoli quite vividly.

Now Hungary says it wishes to follow suit, and according to Vatican diplomats, formal ties could be established as early as next year.

His brash style has annoyed Vatican diplomats as well, who made clear they would have preferred a professional diplomat in the job.