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Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

Part of UK in Holy See

24th January 2012

Communications, Silence, and Survival

A talk to the BBC Radio4
The British Ambassador to the Holy See Nigel Baker pictured during his talk to the BBC Radio 4 Sunday programme on faith and religious matters (October 2011)

It was interesting to see Pope Benedict speaking today about communications, in advance of the 20 May World Day of Social Communications.

We are all in the business. From bloggers like me, to Foreign Ministries striving to get their “angle” across, from the frenzied activity of Twitter, to the simple conversation on the mobile. We often talk of information overload, as we struggle to take in the white noise of endless communication. And that leaves little time for reflection. As Pope Benedict says, silence can be as powerful as noise.

The Pope’s message also demonstrates how the Holy See is engaging increasingly with the digital media. The longevity of any institution is, in my view, based on two essential characteristics. The first is a clear identity and message. The second the ability to keep up with the times. Her Majesty The Queen celebrates her Diamond Jubilee this year, and the monarchy is an example of a venerable institution that has had to adapt to the times to continue to flourish into this 21st century. By contrast, we have all heard the last week of the example of Kodak, a more recently founded organisation that failed to anticipate the surge of the digital age. There is no inherent contradiction between age and modernity. The trick is being heard above the din. And listening to the silences in between.

About Nigel Baker

Nigel was British Ambassador to the Holy See from 2011-2016. He presented his Credentials to Pope Benedict XVI on 9 September 2011, after serving 8 years in Latin America, as…

Nigel was British Ambassador to the Holy See from 2011-2016. He presented his Credentials to Pope Benedict XVI on 9 September 2011, after serving 8 years in Latin America, as Deputy Head of Mission in the British Embassy in Havana, Cuba (2003-6) and then as British Ambassador in La Paz, Bolivia (2007-11). In July 2016, Nigel finished his posting, and is currently back in London.

As the first British Ambassador to the Holy See ever to have a blog, Nigel provided a regular window on what the Embassy and the Ambassador does. The blogs covered a wide range of issues, from Royal and Ministerial visits to Diplomacy and Faith, freedom of religion, human trafficking and climate change.

More on Nigel’s career

Nigel was based in London between 1998 and 2003. He spent two years on European Union issues (for the UK 1998 EU Presidency and on European Security and Defence questions), before crossing St James’s Park to work for three years as The Assistant Private Secretary to His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. At St James’s Palace, Nigel worked on international issues, including the management of The Prince of Wales’s overseas visits and tours, on the Commonwealth, interfaith issues, the arts and international development.

Nigel spent much of the early part of his FCO career in Central Europe, after an initial stint as Desk Officer for the Maghreb countries in the Near East and North Africa department (1990-91). Between 1992 and 1996, Nigel served in the British embassies in Prague and Bratislava, the latter being created in 1993 after the peaceful division of Czechoslovakia into the separate Czech and Slovak Republics.

Nigel joined the FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) in September 1989. Between 1996 and 1998 he took a two year academic sabbatical to research and write about themes in 18th century European history, being based in Verona but also researching in Cambridge, Paris and Naples. The research followed from Nigel’s time as a student at Cambridge (1985-88) where he read history and was awarded a First Class Honours degree, followed by his MA in 1992.

Before joining the Foreign Office, Nigel worked briefly for the Conservative Research Department in London at the time of the 1989 European election campaign.

Nigel married Alexandra (Sasha) in 1997. They have one son, Benjamin, born in Bolivia in September 2008.

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communications digital new media silence social media world day

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