Former Ambassador To The Vatican Discusses Possibility of "Just War" Against ISIS

Francis Rooney, the U. S. Ambassador to the Vatican under President George W. Bush weighs in on the rise of the Islamic State. and the terrorists' brutal tear through Syria and Iraq.  Ambassador Rooney writes in his book The Global Vatican, An Inside Look at The Catholic Church, World Politics and the Extraordinary Relationship Between the United States and the Holy See, that the relationship hasn't been so extraordinary since the election of Barack Obama as President in 2008.

Rooney notes how the U. S. effort to seek a community of nations to confront the threat posed by Islamic extremism is the same message Pope Francis delivered months ago, and wonders whether 

the extinction of Christians in parts of the middle east could have been prevented with a better working relationship between the White House and the Vatican.

Leveraging The Holy See's "Soft" Power

Francis Rooney served as Ambassador to the Vatican during the second term of George W. Bush. He looks back on Pope Benedict's denunciation of radical Islam and his opposition to the war in Iraq.  And he offers his perspective on Pope Francis' efforts to reform the Vatican.

Ambassador Rooney explains why the current pope's recent comments about capitalism have been misunderstood, and are colored by Francis' Argentinian roots.