Thomas P. Melady
Inaugural Lecture of series sponsored by the Knights of Columbus (Potomac Council)
at the Catholic Information Center
The United States and the Vatican in World Affairs
by Thomas Patrick Melady
Former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of
America to the Holy See
The ideological clash between President George H.W. Bush and Pope John Paul II came over the Gulf War in January 1991 while Dr. Melady was Ambassador to the Vatican. John Paul wrote Bush stressing ‘the tragic consequences which war in the region would have,’ and declaring his ‘firm belief that war is not likely to bring an adequate solution to international problems.’ Both the Italian left and right newspapers quoted the Holy Father in their savage attacks on U.S. policy. To find out how a Catholic U.S.
Ambassador to the Vatican represents that issue for the U.S. and how it relates to today’s growing Middle East crisis, come January 8th and ask Dr. Melady.
- Time: January 8, 2003; Mass: 12:05 PM; Lecture: 12:45 PM; Informal buffet: 1:20 PM
- Place: Catholic Information Center; 1501 K St, NW, Washington, DC 20005; (202) 783-2062
- RSVP: By January 6th, call Jim Sebolka (703) 941-1999 or email: sebolka@usa.net for lecture & buffet
- Reservation or fill in the reservation card at the Catholic Information Center, seating is limited.
Thomas Patrick Melady, Jr.
Dr. Melady held four diplomatic posts including US Ambassador to Burundi from 1969-1972; Senior Advisor to the US delegation to the UN General Assembly in 1970; the US Ambassador to Uganda from 1972-1973; and the US Ambassador to the Holy See from 1989-1993. He served as President of Sacred Heart University from 1976-1986 and is now President Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Political Science. Previously, he was the Executive Officer of St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and a Professor of African-Asian Affairs at Seton Hall University. In 1981-1982, while on leave from his University post, he served as Assistant Secretary for Post Secondary Education in the US Department of Education. After completing his assignment in Vatican City, Ambassador Melady served as the 1993-1994 Distinguished Visiting Professor at The George Washington University. Currently, he is the Senior Diplomat in Residence at the Institute of World Politics.
Now, 174 states recognize the Holy See and the structures of US-Vatican diplomatic relations are sound. But, opposition to the diplomatic role of the Holy See appeared in 2000. A group attempted to influence the United Nations (UN) to reduce the status of the Observer Mission of the Holy See to that of a non-governmental organization (NGO). There was an avalanche of support for the Holy See to maintain its UN Observer status.
A White House source described Melady as “one of President George H. W. Bush’s pen pals.” Melady, the White House official said, “is a prolific memo writer, and over the years he has influenced the president’s views and thoughts about the church.”
Melady is a personal friend of the Bush family. When he was a student at the Catholic University of America, Prescott S. Bush Sr., senator from Connecticut and father of George H. W. Bush, provided him with important documents for his dissertation.
Since 1993, Dr. Melady has served as Chairman of the National Committee for the Catholic Campaign for America and Counsel to Governments and Corporations. Dr. Melady is an authority on Afro-Asian and Central European Affairs and earned his PhD from The Catholic University of America. He is the author of 15 books and numerous articles. He serves on the National Board of Directors of the International League for Human Rights and is former member of the National Board of The National Conference of Christians and Jews. Twenty-eight universities have conferred honorary doctorates on him and six countries have honored him.
One of those speaking strongly in favor of the Holy See role at the UN was the then Governor of Texas, George W. Bush.
Pope Paul VI knighted Melady in 1968 and by Pope John Paul II in 1983. He is a member of the Knights of Malta.
Ambassador Melady is also a member of the Knights of Columbus and we are honored he is a member of the Potomac Council.