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Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

Part of UK in Holy See

14th March 2012

The Archbishop of Canterbury in Rome

Dr Rowan Williams, The Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, pictured at the International Conference ‘Christians in the Holy Land’ (London, July 2011). Photo: courtesy of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales

It is often easier to say what divides religion than what unites. And that is certainly the emphasis given by media reporting from the “front line”, be it sectarian violence in Nigeria or historic resentments in Northern Ireland. Sometimes, regrettably, religious division is real, and does lead to violence. But very often it is the pretext rather than the cause. And religious disunity is not the whole story.

These reflections came to me during the Archbishop of Canterbury’s recent visit to Rome to celebrate the Millennium of the Camaldoli branch of the Benedictine tradition. During his visit Dr Williams met Pope Benedict, celebrated Vespers with the Pope at the Monastery of St Gregory the Great, prayed with the St Egidio community in Trastevere, celebrated Eucharist at the US Episcopalian Church of St Paul’s Inside the Walls, and visited the abbey of Montecassino, linked historically with Anglicanism through the Benedictine relationship.

In one address, Dr Williams recalled the Archbishop recalled Pope John Paul II’s and Archbishop Robert Runcie’s characterisation of the communion between Canterbury and Rome as “certain yet imperfect”. As with all relationships, imperfection clearly has its place. But the overarching message throughout the visit was one of the importance of unity. Despite the vicissitudes, historical failures and, yes, even religious wars, this is a relationship that has survived 1,500 years since the first monks sent by St Gregory under St Augustine arrived on the shores of Kent. And what characterises it now, as was evident during the visit, is respect, tolerance, mutual regard and, indeed, friendship.

I have a particular task. At the St Egidio Community, they showed me an altar on which were laid copies of the Bible published in “most” of the languages of the world. ‘Welsh, or Scots-Gaelic?’, I enquired. Blank looks. One of the unifying aspects of religion is its crossing of political boundaries, reaching out to other nations and languages. If anyone has a Welsh or Scots-Gaelic edition of the Bible, I’d be delighted to present it to St Egidio to add to their collection!

2 comments on “The Archbishop of Canterbury in Rome”

  1. Reference was made to Nigeria with regards to sectarianism. Religion is a political tool in Nigeria., the unending quest for superiority between North and South finds expression in bloody conflicts, the most effective incendiary being religion.
    It is highly doubtful if Nigeria can solve its religious problems without solving its political problems first.

  2. I am very happy that tolerance, respect, mutual regard and friendship

    are the main values that still exist in 2012. Let it be like this forever!

    Unfortunately, I only have a French Catholic Bible. If I can find the

    edition that you want, I will write to you.

    Sincerly,

    Francine Deschenes ( College teacher, Montreal Canada )

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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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