Religion and Foreign Policy Bulletin |
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Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, April 2017. (Osservatore Romano/Vatican Media/Reuters) |
The April 2025 Religion and Foreign Policy Bulletin highlights CFR analysis on the geopolitical legacy of Pope Francis, recent current events in Asia, and the impact of changes to U.S. foreign aid policy across Africa. |
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The Legacy of Pope Francis |
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The Pope’s Foreign Policy |
Pope Francis transformed the Vatican into a more assertive and globally relevant diplomatic force, National Catholic Register’s Victor Gaetan writes. From negotiating a historic agreement with China to resetting interfaith ties with Sunni leaders, Francis defied Western alignments to position the Church as a truly transnational actor and advanced a multipolar vision of Catholic engagement. His faith-infused diplomacy—pragmatic yet deeply moral—sought to amplify voices from the ‘periphery,’ prioritize peace over partisanship, and reimagine the Vatican’s influence in an era of geopolitical fragmentation. Read the article on ForeignAffairs.com »
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Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, died on April 21 at the age of eighty-eight. His twelve-year papacy expanded the Vatican’s focus toward the Global South and its role as a moral authority on war, climate change, and migrant rights. From facilitating U.S.-Cuba diplomacy to denouncing nuclear weapons to urging compassion for refugees, Francis’s global legacy will shape both religious and political discourse for generations. Read the article on CFR.org »
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| Church workers hang a picture of Pope Francis at the Manila Cathedral in Manila, Philippines. (Noel Celis/Reuters)
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Religion and Foreign Policy Webinar: The Pope and International Relations |
A Religion and Foreign Policy Webinar in December 2024 discussed the geopolitical and cultural influence and leadership of the pope, as well as the role of the Catholic Church in international relations. Watch the webinar on CFR.org » |
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Resources and Analysis on Asia |
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Earthquake Pushes Myanmar’s Health System to Verge of Collapse
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Patients lie on beds inside the compound of Sagaing Hospital in Sagaing, Myanmar, on April 2, 2025. (REUTERS/Stringer)
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Myanmar’s March 28 earthquake pushed the country’s health system toward collapse, with access to care especially dire for displaced and persecuted communities, including religious and ethnic minorities. Global Health Partnerships’ Jonathon Foster and Thinn Thinn Hlaing explore the questions of global responsibility, aid access, and the protection of health workers in fragile states raised by the crisis. Read the article on ThinkGlobalHealth.org »
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Cambodia’s Descent Into a Death Spiral: Fifty Years On
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Fifty years after the Khmer Rouge’s genocidal regime, which led to the deaths of up to three million Cambodians and caused targeted violence against religious minorities like Cham Muslims and ethnic Vietnamese, CFR’s David Scheffer examines the successes and limitations of Cambodia’s tribunal process as well as the genocide’s implications for how faith-based communities and policymakers confront impunity and uphold religious freedom today. Read the article on CFR.org »
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Members of the MONATIO group drive through Phnom Penh on April 17, 1975, the day Cambodia fell under control of Khmer Rouge forces. (Sven Erik Sjoberg/AFP/Getty Images)
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CFR’s new timeline chronicles one of the world’s most consequential bilateral relationships, from 1949 to present-day. From Cold War estrangement to economic interdependence and growing geopolitical rivalry, the timeline traces key moments of tension and cooperation across issues such as trade, climate change, Taiwan, and military competition. Access the timeline on CFR.org »
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Conflict and Humanitarian Aid in Africa |
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Nutrition for Growth: A Crossroads for Ethiopia’s Healthy Future |
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Dereje Duguma, Ethiopia’s state minister for health services and programs, outlines his country’s path to addressing malnutrition, climate change-driven disasters, and neglected tropical diseases. Innovative approaches to community engagement have already trained more than 1,700 religious leaders and community elders. Read the article on ThinkGlobalHealth.org »
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| Farmers transport teff from their farm in Woliso, Oromia region, Ethiopia. (REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri)
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A Third Year of War: Dried-Up Aid Pulls Sudan Further Into Chaos |
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Displaced Sudanese take refuge at a school-turned-shelter in Port Sudan. (Abrahim Mohammed Ishac/Reuters) |
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As Sudan enters a third year of war, the country faces deepening famine, mass displacement, and a crumbling health system. With the United States and other donors scaling back aid, relief efforts are faltering as humanitarian needs soar. This article explains the toll of prolonged conflict and what dwindling international support means for Sudan’s future. Read the article on CFR.org »
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South Sudan Is a Test for the African Union |
With tensions rising in South Sudan, the risk of renewed civil war is growing. Michelle Gavin writes that “the conflicts in the Horn of Africa, the Sudans, and Central Africa risk becoming ever more entwined.” As global and regional actors fail to mount an effective response, the African Union faces a pivotal test of its capacity to prevent a humanitarian and geopolitical crisis. Read the article on CFR.org »
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The CFR Religion and Foreign Policy monthly bulletin highlights policy analysis by its fellows and experts for the religion community. |
About the CFR Religion and Foreign Policy Program |
CFR’s Religion and Foreign Policy program serves as a resource for faith leaders and policymakers, and offers a forum for congregational leaders, seminary heads, scholars of religion, and representatives of faith-based organizations to discuss global issues in an interfaith environment. For more information, contact CFR’s Religion and Foreign Policy program at 212.434.9497 or religionprogram@cfr.org.
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About the Council on Foreign Relations |
The mission of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is to inform U.S. engagement with the world. Founded in 1921, CFR is a nonpartisan, independent national membership organization, think tank, educator, and publisher, including of Foreign Affairs. It generates policy-relevant ideas and analysis, convenes experts and policymakers, and promotes informed public discussion—all to have impact on the most consequential issues facing the United States and the world.
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