Vatican Diplomat Pietro Parolin to Receive European Order of Merit

Pietro Parolin, the Cardinal Secretary of State for the Holy See, is set to receive the European Order of Merit in recognition of his decade-long influence on Vatican diplomacy. Appointed by Pope Francis in 2013, Parolin has been a central figure in global affairs, recently drawing praise for his balanced condemnation of both the October 7 Hamas attacks and the subsequent humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The article outlines his extensive diplomatic career, beginning with his ordination in 1980 and early postings in Nigeria and Mexico, where he helped restore historic ties between the Mexican government and the Vatican. Later serving as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, he managed complex relations with China, Vietnam, and North Korea, and played a key role in mediating the 2007 release of British sailors captured by Iran. Although considered a leading candidate to succeed Pope Francis after the pontiff's death, the 2025 conclave ultimately elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost. Parolin presided over the election as the senior cardinal-bishop elector, cementing his legacy as a pivotal architect of modern papal diplomacy.