(ZENIT News / Rome, 26.08.2024).- A recent study, carried out by researchers of the Free University of Brussels and the University of Hamburg, casts light on the profound impacts that papal trips can have on host countries. Far from being mere ceremonial acts, the Holy Father’s visits can spell significant improvements in the protection of human rights, benefit Governments’ image and even foster local tourism.
The study, entitled “Pacem in Terris” in tribute to Pope John XXIII’s 1963 encyclical, reveals that the Pontiff’s arrival in a country not only embellishes the Catholic Church’s image but, usually, is also accompanied by a reduction in human rights violations. According to the researchers, the positive effects also begin even before the Pope sets foot in the country: political prisoners are released and fewer abuses are observed, achievements that, in many cases, persist even after the Pontiff’s departure.
Moreover, the media exposure generated by a papal visit not only benefits the host Government, by offering it an opportunity to improve its international reputation, but also boosts the tourist sector. This phenomenon is particularly notable in countries with democratic regimes, where conditions are more propitious for improvement in human rights. Instead, the effects in non-democratic Governments are usually less pronounced, given that the Authorities only invite the Pope when they consider that the benefits in legitimacy outweigh the possible risks of being criticized.
The study is based on the analysis of 283 visits carried out by four Popes — from Paul VI to Francis –, examining the global media coverage on human rights, papal addresses and changes in the violations of these rights in the countries visited. With these results in mind, Pope Francis’ next trip, planned for September 2-13, during which he will visit Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore, appears as a new opportunity to observe these effects in action.
