In spite of some uncertainty among jurists as to whether it could continue to act as an independent personality in international matters, the Holy See continued in fact to exercise the right to send and receive diplomatic representatives, maintaining relations with states that included the major powers Russia, Prussia and Austria-Hungary.
Meskipun terdapat beberapa ketaksepahaman di antara para ahli hukum, tentang apakah Tahta Suci dapat terus bertindak sebagai personalitas yang merdeka dalam urusan internasional, faktanya Tahta Suci tetap menjalankan haknya untuk mengirim dan menerima perwakilan diplomatik, memelihara hubungan dengan negara kekuatan utama Rusia, Prussia, dan Austria-Hungaria.