Sally Axworthy presented her Letters of Credence, accrediting her as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Holy See, to Pope Francis at the Vatican today.
After presenting her credentials to the Pope, Axworthy said: “It will be a great privilege to continue to build on the excellent relations between the United Kingdom and the Holy See, and the many core values that we share.
"Pope Francis is one of the most, if not the most, respected international leader. People pay attention to what he is saying and doing, and it is important that we engage with him and the global Holy See network”.
The ambassador added: “We share a common agenda with the Holy See and the Catholic network. It’s very relevant to many of the concerns that the world is currently facing: from conflict prevention to dialogue between faiths, freedom of religion or belief, international development, climate change, defeating modern slavery and ending sexual violence in conflict”.
Axworthy, who has succeeded Nigel Baker as ambassador to the Holy See, joined the Foreign Office (FCO) in 1986. Her career has taken her career has taken her to Russia, Ukraine, Germany, and India. Most recently she was the Joint Head of North Africa Department at the FCO. She is an MBE.
