The appointment of Britain’s next ambassador to the Holy See is thought to be imminent, according to sources here in Rome.
At the end of June, the Sunday Telegraph reported that the former Conservative MP, Ann Widdecombe, had been tapped for the post, and that William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, had endorsed the nomination.
The Vatican still needs to give its agrément, but sources say that other persons may also be under consideration and that Miss Widdecombe’s candidacy is not yet certain.
Even so, there appear to be no grounds for the Holy See to reject her nomination. Usually, the Vatican does so for exceptional circumstances, for instance if the candidate is a divorced and remarried Catholic or living with a same-sex partner.
