Catholic News Service (http://www.catholicnews.com/)
Diplomatic immunity ensures safe passage for diplomats outside their home country. They are not subject to lawsuits or prosecution under the laws of the host country.
As host country for U.N. general headquarters in New York, the United States has extended diplomatic immunity and privileges to members of all U.N. member nations' diplomatic missions in New York.
The Holy See is not a member of the United Nations, but its quasi-diplomatic permanent observer status, held since 1964, entitles it to participate in General Assembly debates, have its communications issued and circulated as official documents of the assembly, and co-sponsor draft resolutions and decisions that refer to the Holy See.
Last December, in its Department of State Authorities Act of 2006, Congress authorized the president to give the observer mission and its members "the privileges and immunities enjoyed by the diplomatic missions of member states to the United Nations, and their members." Bush signed that act into law Jan. 11, and his March 7 executive order simply carried out what the law authorized.
The Associated Press quoted an unnamed White House official as saying that the decision to grant full diplomatic privileges to the permanent observer mission and its personnel "has been in the works for a while."
"The Vatican has an interest, and we were glad to be able to accommodate as host country for the U.N.," the official said.
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Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
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