Did the Vatican take a jab at Trump's ambassador? | National Catholic Reporter
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The Vatican's own media chief may have quietly rebuked Trump's ambassador pick — a diplomatic signal wrapped in plausible deniability.
Signaling TheoryDiplomatic CommunicationPlausible DeniabilitySoft Power
Theory Briefing
- The Vatican's editorial director for communications — not a low-level staffer — appears to be the source of the pointed remarks, raising the stakes of any implied criticism.
- Diplomatic messaging through official media lets institutions signal displeasure without triggering a formal confrontation, leaving both sides room to retreat.
- The question of whether this was a deliberate jab or a coincidental statement cuts to the heart of how the Holy See manages relations with powerful governments.