Maddie Shorman

Maddie Shorman

Maddie Shorman is a PhD student at the University of Texas at Austin’s LBJ School of Public Affairs. Her research focuses on the intersection of religion, diplomatic history, and U.S. foreign policy in Latin America, with particular attention to the role of the Catholic Church in Cold War diplomacy and national security. She is a Graduate Fellow at the Clements Center for National Security and has presented her work at international conferences on U.S. grand strategy, Cold War history, and religion in global affairs. Prior to doctoral study, she served as a policy consultant and analyst on transatlantic security issues. She is currently completing a dissertation on the strategic uses of religious soft power in U.S.–Latin American relations.

The Vatican’s Quiet Intelligence Legacy and Why It Matters Now

by Maddie Shorman | 8 May, 2025 | Security

On Easter Monday, Pope Francis died at the age of 88. His passing marked the end of a 12-year papacy characterized by a commitment to the poor, an insistence on peace over posturing, and an often-controversial emphasis on mercy over rules. As white smoke issues from the Vatican--indicating a new pope has been chosen--most commentary has focused on familiar terrain: his views on women, LGBTQ+ rights, his political moderation, his Latin American identity, or his climate advocacy. But for all the ink spilled over Francis’s social teachings, one of the most strategically relevant elements of his...

The Duck of Minerva

Maddie Shorman

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The Vatican’s Quiet Intelligence Legacy and Why It Matters Now

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