The evolution of relations between the Vatican and the State of Israel has seen, in the last few hours, an episode particularly emblematic of the underlying tensions.
A diplomatic incident of considerable magnitude has materialized around the communication management of the death of Pope Francis, revealing broader geopolitical dynamics and complex layers in the relations between the two entities.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry has ordered the systematic removal of condolence messages published by its diplomatic missions around the world, generating a wave of critical reactions both inside and outside the Israeli diplomatic apparatus. What seems particularly significant is the chronological sequence of events: messages of condolence expressed, subsequently deleted, and finally justified as "Publishing errors".
The incident takes place in a context of relations already deteriorated by the positions taken by the Pontiff regarding the conflict in the Gaza Strip. The papal declarations, which had described the Israeli military operations with highly critical tones - to the point of invoking the concept of "genocide" used repeatedly by the United Nations - have evidently contributed to an Israeli institutional response characterized by a deliberate communication distance.
This reaction is articulated on multiple levels:
Institutional dimensionThe contrast between the attitude of President Herzog, who expressed condolences, and the silence of Prime Minister Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Sa'ar, highlights a fragmentation in the official Israeli posture.
Diplomatic dimension: The frustration expressed by Israeli ambassadors, particularly in Catholic-majority countries, signals concrete concerns about the relational consequences of this communication choice.
Communicative dimension: The directive to delete messages without providing adequate explanations reveals a centralized but inadequately articulated approach to crisis management.
What emerges with particular clarity is the tension between diplomatic pragmatism and ideological positions. Israeli ambassadors immediately grasped the potential negative repercussions of the action on relations with global Catholic communities, estimating the reputational costs of such a communication strategy.
The episode raises broader questions about the management of interstate relations in crisis contexts and the balancing of immediate emotional reactions with long-term strategic considerations in contemporary diplomacy.
The next official justification – "the tweet was posted in error" – appears as an attempt to downplay the symbolic significance of the event, while in fact maintaining the communicative distance.
This case highlights how, in the era of digital diplomacy, even apparently minor communication choices can take on significant geopolitical implications, influencing the global perception of state actors and conditioning international relations in ways that are not immediately predictable.
