Diplomacy and religion : the role of protocol visits in shaping the international relations of the Republic of Slovenia

Valentan, Sebastijan (author)

Based on original documents of the Protocol of the Republic of Slovenia and offering a novel, comprehensive treatment of the subject, this contribution analyses the significance of protocol visits in shaping the international relations of the Republic of Slovenia. It emphasizes that such visits are not merely formal-diplomatic events but also instruments for strengthening bilateral and multilateral ties. Particular attention is given to the rarity and prestige of state visits and to the exceptional symbolic value of Pope John Paul II’s visits, which transcended traditional protocol frameworks and reinforced Slovenia’s bond with the Holy See. The analysis shows that religion in protocol visits remains an important element of soft diplomacy, complementing political dimensions and strengthening the country’s identity in the global arena.

• Language: English
• Keywords: diplomacy, religion, protocol visits, diplomatic law, international relations, state visits
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: TEOF - Theological Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 01.01.2025
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 191-208
• Numbering: Letn. 80, št. 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-177630
• UDC: 341.7:2(497.4)
• ISSN on article: 2335-4127
• DOI: 10.34291/Edinost/80/02/Valentan
• COBISS.SI-ID: 262132739
• Publication date in RUL: 30.12.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Edinost in dialog : revija za ekumensko teologijo in medreligijski dialog = Unity and dialogue : journal for ecumenical theology and interreligious dialogue
• Publisher: Založba Univerze v Ljubljani, Teološka fakulteta Univerze v Ljubljani, Enota v Mariboru in Inštitut Stanka Janežiča za dogmatično, osnovno in ekumensko teologijo ter religiologijo in dialog
• ISSN: 2335-4127
• COBISS.SI-ID: 268194560

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Diplomacija in religija : vloga protokolarnih obiskov pri oblikovanju mednarodnih odnosov Republike Slovenije

Abstract

Prispevek, ki je nastal na podlagi originalnih dokumentov Protokola Republike Slovenije in predstavlja novost v smislu predstavitve celostne obravnavane tematike, analizira pomen protokolarnih obiskov pri oblikovanju mednarodnih odnosov Republike Slovenije. Poudarja, da ti obiski niso le formalno-diplomatski dogodki, temveč tudi instrumenti krepitve bilateralnih in multilateralnih vezi. Posebej izpostavlja redkost in prestižnost državniških obiskov ter izjemno simbolno vrednost obiskov papeža Janeza Pavla II., ki so presegli običajne protokolarne okvire ter utrdili vez med Slovenijo in Svetim sedežem. Analiza pokaže, da religija pri protokolarnih obiskih ostaja pomemben element mehke diplomacije, ki dopolnjuje politične razsežnosti in krepi identiteto države v globalnem prostoru.

• Keywords: diplomacija, religija, protokol, protokolarni obiski, diplomatsko pravo, mednarodni odnosi, državniški obiski