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Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

Part of UK in Holy See

22nd February 2012

The Commonwealth and the Catholic Church

Ambassador Baker congratulates His Eminence George Cardinal Alencherry, Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro-Malabar Church, on his elevation to the College of Cardinals, 18 February 2012.

The senior leadership of the global Catholic Church has been in Rome over the last week to celebrate the latest Consistory of Cardinals, at which 22 new Cardinals were installed. These included the Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamalay of the Syr-Malabars, in Kerala in India, His Eminence George Alencherry. Our congratulations go out to him and the other new Cardinals as they take up their new responsibilities.

Cardinal Alencherry and a number of other Cardinals, including a strong contingent from Commonwealth countries (including India, Australia, Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia, as well as from England and Scotland) joined me at my Residence after the Consistory for a celebratory event. One issue we discussed was how the network of the Commonwealth of Nations and the Catholic Church might be able to do more together. The question had been raised by Lord Howell during the visit of the British Government delegation to the Holy See the previous week. As he noted, the objectives of the two networks – centred on the human individual, working for development and world peace, and focused on education, healthcare, good governance, democracy  – are remarkably similar. Perhaps we should look at what can do together?

In a modern world that is moving away from static blocs to more dynamic network structures and relationships, the idea struck me – and a number of the Cardinals – as one worth exploring. The fluid nature of global networking probably argues against anything too structured or rigid. But aligning the global impact of Catholic networks, present in most Commonwealth countries and representing over 1.2 billion people, with that of the family of 54 Commonwealth nations and their combined  2.1 billion population, seems to make real sense. What do you think?

1 comment on “The Commonwealth and the Catholic Church”

  1. I think cross (no pun intended) networking, in any context, is a good idea, so prehaps the formation of a “Commonwealth Bishops Conference” is needed? From my understanding United Synagogue already has Commonwealth concerns within its scope, so this is not a new concept.

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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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