One of the few works done recently on the international position of the Holy See. Drawn from a series of lectures given by Colombo Sacco, an Italian diplomat, at the University of Milan and at the Catholic University of Leuven, the book examines the first twenty years of Pope Wojtyla's pontificate, highlighting the Vatican's increasing involvement in international politics. Thus, it illustrates Karol Wojtyla's thought in this field and his guidelines for the development of international law: human rights, the rights of peoples and nations, the right of humanitarian intervention, development cooperation. The volume is completed by an essential bibliography and a selectiion of primary sources.