The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Holy See to Slovakia, H.E. Mons. Nicola Girasoli, opened the 35th edition of the subject Diplomacy in Practice on 20 February 2024. Before delivering his lecture, Ambassador Girasoli was received by Vice-Rector for International Relations, Boris Mattoš, who informed the guest of the University's international cooperation and internationalisation.
In his presentation, Ambassador Girasoli focused on the Holy See's global position in international relations, within which the Holy See maintains diplomatic relations with 184 states. The diplomacy of the Holy See is one of the oldest in the world. The 1815 Congress of Vienna established a specific status for the Apostolic Nuncio as the doyen of the diplomatic corps in countries where such status is recognised.
Nicola Girasoli stressed that the Holy See's diplomacy is aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence among countries, nations and people. He went on to say that the Pope's role in international relations is to mediate conflicts, promote peace and aid in solving environmental issues. The Papal Nuncio also added that the safest path to peace is dialogue, underlining the fact that human rights are non-negotiable.
Questions in the debate revolved around the Holy See's influence in international relations, cultural identity, the doyen's tasks in the diplomatic corps in Slovakia, reconciliation of science and technology, and interconnection between democracy and peace.
Nicola Girasoli joined the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 1 May 1985. His assignments included postings to Apostolic Delegations in Indonesia and Australia, as well as work in the Section for General Affairs of the Vatican Secretariat of State, followed by more postings to Apostolic Nunciatures in Hungary, Belgium, United States of America, and Argentina.
In 2006, he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Zambia and Malawi, and in 2011 he became Apostolic Nuncio in Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, Grenada, Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Apostolic Delegate to the Antilles. In 2017 he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Peru and since August 26, 2022 he has been serving as Apostolic Nuncio to Slovakia.
The two-semester subject Diplomacy in Practice has been offered by the University of Economics in Bratislava to local as well as international students since 2004. Students here have a unique opportunity to obtain up-to-date information and knowledge about international economic and political relations and diplomatic practice. In 20 years of the subject’s existence, 332 ambassadors and diplomatic corps members have been lecturing on the Diplomacy in Practice for 1,693 EUBA students. Heads of diplomatic missions from 5 continents and three experts on topics such as environmental diplomacy, the EU's diplomatic service and cultural diplomacy have accepted an invitation to participate in the current edition of the subject.
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