Pope Benedict XVI's diplomatic work is often unrecognized.

On the third anniversary of his death, the article highlights Pope Benedict XVI's diplomatic efforts to advance Christian unity and to open talks with Iran, Vietnam and China.

Pope Benedict XVI died three years ago on Dec. 31, and the anniversary has prompted a look at an often-overlooked side of his papacy. He is widely known for his scholarship, pastoral decisions, and a bestselling trilogy on Jesus. The article argues he also pursued careful diplomacy. That diplomatic work focused on advancing Christian unity and building ties with Iran, Vietnam and China. Notable points: - In 2006 Benedict met Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I in Istanbul and the two leaders revived a Catholic-Orthodox theological commission. - Relations with the Russian Orthodox Church improved after the 2009 election of Patriarch Kirill, and the Vatican established full diplomatic relations with Russia in 2009. - On Dec. 27, 2006, Benedict met a high-level Iranian delegation including Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, who presented a letter from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad; later exchanges included meetings between Catholic clerics and Shia scholars in Qom and Najaf in 2012. - Benedict helped advance Vatican engagement with Vietnam through visits and delegations between 2005 and 2011, culminating in the appointment of a nonresident papal representative in 2011. - The Vatican sent a delegation to Beijing in 2006, convened a 2007 summit in Rome, and released Benedict's 2007 letter to Chinese Catholics calling for unity while noting the incompatibility of the state-run "patriotic" church in a footnote; Rome's approval preceded the government's naming of Joseph Li Shan as archbishop. Summary: The article presents Benedict's diplomacy as quietly advancing ties across Christian traditions and engaging with Muslim and Asian leaders. Undetermined at this time.