The Holy See has a long and well-established diplomatic presence in various domains, as a subject of international law, including the cultural and academic activities at global level.

Regarding the Holy See’s presence at international level in relation to Higher Education, a number of choices have been fundamental such as, for example, the signing of the Council of Europe’s European Cultural Convention in December 1954 (a mandatory requirement in order to be admitted into the Bologna Process as a member country), the signing of the Lisbon Convention in 1997, and the participation in UNESCO’s three regional (i.e. continental) Conventions (Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America) on the recognition of higher studies and academic degrees. These Conventions were signed because the ecclesiastical education system is not just limited to Europe, but is found in all continents. In 2010, the Holy See also joined the newly-created European Higher Education Area (EHEA), together with other 46 countries, and the relevant international bodies in this domain.

This was done for two reasons: on the one hand, to take an active part in the contemporary university world, so that the sciences which draw from the light of the Revelation are not excluded, and their academic-scientific contribution can be considered; on the other hand, to ensure the Catholic Church’s active and proactive presence in the fora where the strategies of increasingly globalized university policies are decided.

Regarding international Conventions and agreements, the Holy See works through the Secretariat of State, whereas the specific competence regarding higher ecclesiastical studies worldwide is entrusted to the Dicastery for Culture and Education (since 2022, before Congregation for Catholic Education), according to the provisions of the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus, Art. 116.

The most important legally binding tools promoting academic recognition are, at regional level (which actually means “continental”, according to UNESCO’s definition of regions), the various international Conventions. Starting from 1975, UNESCO introduced six regional Conventions for the mutual recognition of degrees, diplomas, and academic studies:

•1975 (updated in 2019): Latin America and the Caribbean Region (Mexico City Convention – Buenos Aires Convention) – signed also by the Holy See;
•1976: Mediterranean countries;
•1978: Arab States – its update is currently being discussed;
•1979 (updated in 1997): Europe (UNESCO Region, including the United States, Canada, Australia, etc. = Lisbon Convention) – signed and ratified also by the Holy See;
•1981 (updated in 2014): Africa (Arusha Convention – Addis Abeba Convention) – signed also by the Holy See and entered into force on the 15^th of December 2019;
•1983 (updated in 2011): Asia – Pacific (Bangkok Convention – Tokyo Convention) – the updated convention was finalized and signed (also by the Holy See) on November 26, 2011 in Tokyo and entered in to force on 1^st February 2018.

These conventions are legally binding and aim to promote academic mobility. Currently, more than 130 countries in the world have signed and ratified one or several Conventions.

Taking into account these facts, there has also been elaborated a Global Convention from 2011 on, and the Global Convention on Recognition  was adopted in November 2019 and is now open for ratifications.

The Holy See, through the 2nd Section of the Secretariat of State, has signed, ratified, and deposited the instruments related to 4 of the 6 Conventions. Currently, the Holy See is the only subject of international law that has signed all four major Conventions which correspond to UNESCO’s four continental regions.

Although the decision to sign and ratify such conventions belongs to the 2nd Section of the Secretariat of State, starting from 2006, the Dicastery for Culture and Education has explicitly received the task of taking on the responsibility for all practical and content-related aspects, developing its own, more focused strategy, as well as fulfilling all the obligations stemming from the Conventions. Amongst such obligations, suffice to mention the participation in related plenary sessions, daily contacts with permanent representatives of countries adhering to the same Conventions and their communications networks, as well as all evaluation and information procedures that are provided for by the same Conventions.