In the last quarter of the 19th century as Western power enveloped the globe in a fit of absence of mind European politics became world politics. The age of imp... » 

In the last quarter of the 19th century as Western power enveloped the globe in a fit of absence of mind European politics became world politics. The age of imperialism coincided with the pontificate of Leo XIII. Would the papacy live up to the historical challenge implicit in this new world order and turn itself into the Directorgeneral of the Humanitarian forces of the world? The internationalisation of the Catholic masses since the middle of the 19th century suggested it could. In the present volume an international team of 20 scholars examines the triangle between Vatican diplomacy public opinion and the international environment. They invite us to reassess the significance of Leos pontificate in a time when empires became more than ever the motors of globalisation the most imperial among the empires of the spirit could not fail to claim its place.Dans le dernier quart du XIXe sicle tandis que la puissance occidentale stendait lensemble du globe la politique europenne se transforma en politique mondiale. Lre de limprialisme concida avec le pontificat de Lon XIII. La papaut allaitelle relever le dfi historique inhrent ce nouvel ordre mondial et devenir ellemme le Directeur gnral des forces humanitaires du monde? Linternationalisation des masses catholiques depuis le milieu du XIXe sicle semblait le prsager. Dans ce volume une quipe internationale de 20 chercheurs tudie le triangle form par la diplomatie vaticane lopinion publique et lenvironnement international. Ils nous invitent rvaluer limportance du pontificat de Lon XIII une poque o les empires devinrent plus que jamais les moteurs de la mondialisation le plus imprial des empires de lesprit ne pouvait manquer de revendiquer sa place. «