One of Stalin's most famous lines delivered in a discussion about the future of Catholic Poland, was 'How many divisions does the Pope have?' To Stalin politics and authority began and ended with coercive force. Lacking it, the Pope was not politically relevant.
Few people today would believe that Stalin said all that needs to be said. As the symbolic head of a large church a pope can help shape the political space by influencing public opinion and drawing attention to little noticed issues. Some commentators have even described as decisive the part played by Pope John Paul II in the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Pope Francis' forays into environmental, migration and economic issues also raise questions about how popes engage politically. Here I shall look generally at this question, and in a subsequent article consider the political engagement of Pope Francis.
Popes are politically significant because they lead a large international church that is present in many nations. By influencing the life of local churches they also help shape the context of politics.
The teaching, interests and opinions of popes affect the way bishops and priests act, and so influence Catholic attitudes. Although this does not translate readily into votes, particularly in the developed world where churches and other voluntary organisations have a diminished claim on their members, it is still significant.
It also means that any political influence that popes have is inextricably tied to their faith. Their criticism or endorsement of actions by governments must flow from the faith they preach and be coherent with Catholic tradition. For that reason modern popes have spent much time expounding the tradition and discussing contemporary issues in its light.
But the distinctive personality of individual popes has been increasingly important in their political engagement. From the late 19th century a personality cult of the reigning pope grew inside the Catholic Church. He became the face that represented the Church in its interaction with the world.
More recently, however, popes have also become celebrities in mass and social media. Their influence on public opinion, in the wider society as well as in the Catholic Church, is increasingly personal, as well as representative. As a result the way in which individual popes understand and express their faith will also shape the possibilities for their political influence.
"The vast crowds that gathered in Poland to hear Pope John Paul II and attend his liturgical celebrations were as important as his