Holy Mission

New ties raise old questions

Given the historic nature of the step, there was remarkably little fanfare. The word came first from Rome. A few hours later, the State Department made it official. After a lapse of 117 years, the U.S. was establishing full diplomatic relations with the Vatican.

Ronald Reagan chose William Wilson, who has been the presidential representative to the Vatican since 1981. to serve as the new ambassador. Wilson, 69, is a California real estate developer and charter member of Reagan's kitchen cabinet of personal advisers. Archbishop Pio Laghi, 61, the apostolic delegate in Washington, will become Wilson's counterpart, the papal pronuncio. One of the Holy See's ablest diplomats, he previously served in Argentina, where he assisted the Vatican's mediation of the Beagle Channel dispute between Argentina and Chile.

"An essential concern of the Vatican and our Government is how we can work together, for example, in bringing peace to Central America or producing a solution to the Lebanese conflict." Wilson told TIME last month.

Reagan's action stirred sharp domestic dissent among those who believe it violates the constitutional separation of church and state. South Carolina Democrat Fritz Hollings and Connecticut Republican Lowell Weicker said they would oppose Senate confirmation of Wilson. Explained Hollings: "It is in violation of the First Amendment and sets a bad precedent." A number of church groups, including the National Council of Churches (N.C.C.), also objected. The President's "incautious and naive action" could stir up "anti-Catholic animus," said Dean Kelley of the N.C.C.

In 1867, Congress barred funding of a mission to the Vatican as a result of antipapal sentiment. President L Truman tried to re-establish ties in 1951 but was forced to back down. Congress repealed the prohibition in November with little opposition.

No Pope in modern times has taken such a direct interest in wielding diplomatic influence as John Paul II. Now that the U.S. has become the 107th nation with which it has diplomatic relations, the Vatican may move to establish ties with the world's other superpower. In spite of a general belief in the Vatican that the Soviet KGB was behind the 1981 shooting of the Holy Father, relations with Moscow are surprisingly good. Jozef Cardinal Glemp. Poland's Primate, plans to visit the Soviet Union in a few months. Before he leaves. Vatican sources say, he will meet with John Paul to discuss ways to improve Vatican-Kremlin communications.