Australia’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Keith Pitt, visited University of Notre Dame Australia’s Fremantle Campus for a special lecture on diplomacy, international relations and Australia’s engagement with one of the world’s oldest and most influential diplomatic institutions.
A former federal cabinet minister, Mr Pitt served Australia in a range of leadership roles, including as Minister for Resources and Water.
In his current position, he advances Australia’s interests through dialogue on global issues including peace, human dignity, humanitarian assistance, technology, safeguarding, social justice and the Pacific.
Mr Pitt spoke about the unique role of Australia’s embassy to the Holy See, which focuses on multilateral engagement rather than consular services or trade negotiations.
“There is a reason there are more than 90 resident embassies to the Holy See,” he said. “That is about their level of international diplomacy and their impact on areas of the world that are of interest to us, and interest to the Australian Government and the Australian people.”
Mr Pitt said the Holy See’s influence on world leaders, major organisations and global diplomacy was significant, but often exercised quietly.
“As a religious institution, as a global institution, they are the original influencers,” he said. “Their level of international diplomacy and influence is quite simply extraordinary. And you’ll never hear about it. It doesn’t get reported in the media. They don’t put it up in lights. They just do it.”
He said the Holy See’s diplomatic network gave it first-hand insight into many of the world’s most pressing conflicts and humanitarian challenges and that Australia’s presence in Rome was an important way to hear and contribute to those conversations.
Mr Pitt also reflected on the influence of Pope Leo XIV, including the Pope’s strong focus on artificial intelligence, human dignity and the future of work.
“The fact that the Holy Father spoke particularly about the dignity of work and the ability of the individual to find their own way and the impact that AI may have on that in the future, I think was a very important intervention,” he said. “To use words like ‘we must disarm AI’ — that’s strong. And it led the news around the world.”
Mr Pitt said the Pope’s intervention had already influenced international debate around AI, including in Australia and was expected to shape future discussions in Europe and elsewhere.
“There are a lot of views about artificial intelligence, but I agree with the Pope around the dignity of work, to ensure that it is a tool for humanity to advance it, not to replace it,” he said.
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Notre Dame welcomes Australian Ambassador to the Holy See (UNDA)
