Figureheads? Ya think so? The Queen might be a figurehead today, but she is still part of the English government. In contrast, the Pope enjoys absolute executive, legislative, and judicial powers in a monarchical-sacerdotal state. He IS the government in his country. Still you're mistaken in your claim. Not a single country, not Great Britain, not France, not the Papal States, ever recognized the confederacy as an independent, sovereign nation.