Scottish Catholic Observer

Nigel Baker has been appointed as the UK’s new ambassador to the Vatican.

Mr Baker, who will begin his post in August, takes over the role from Francis Campbell—the first Catholic to hold the post and who stood down at the end of last year. Mr Baker joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1989.

Since then, his career has taken him principally to Central Europe and Latin America, most recently as ambassador to Bolivia.

Mr Baker (above) said he was ‘delighted and honoured’ to be taking up his role as the UK’s ambassador to the Holy See, and spoke fondly of last year’s Papal visit to the UK.

“The last few years have seen the development of a strong and fruitful global partnership between the United Kingdom and the Holy See,” he said. “The historic visit of Pope Benedict XVI in September 2010 reinforced that relationship and opened new avenues for bilateral and multilateral collaboration.”