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Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

Part of UK in Holy See

23rd July 2014

Making a reality of the common good

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UK aid supporting rebuilding homes in the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan. Photo: Henry Donati/DFID

There are many definitions of “the common good”. It is an idea born from early Christian thought, especially the writing of St Augustine, and a key concept of Catholic Social Teaching. As a phrase, it is used regularly by successive Popes, including Pope Francis, to describe a worthy objective of man’s strivings in society. A definition I rather like is that of the Vatican Council document Gaudium et Spes, promulgated in 1965: “the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfilment more fully and more easily”.

But what does that mean in reality? As it happens, the Archbishop of Canterbury gave a recent clue, following a debate at the Church of England Synod in York, and as reported on Vatican Insider. He called it “an ethic … in the here and now”, and gave three specific examples of political change for the common good: cross-party support for maintaining Britain’s international development budget at a minimum of 0.7% of GDP; the UK’s leadership in global efforts to tackle sexual violence in conflict; and the Bill on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking which the government intends will become law in 2015.

Archbishop Welby is saying, in my view, two quite profound things about “the common good”. The first is that, though deriving from Christian thought, it is a concept we can and should all grasp – whatever our background – if we want to make our world a better place. And, secondly, that there are practical and very specific ways of making a difference to realise it. As an embassy, we are proud that we work on all three of the areas highlighted by the Archbishop, and will continue to do so. To pursue each is perfectly compatible with the national security and prosperity interests that this embassy rightly seeks to promote, while having a far wider beneficial impact. In my view, that’s making a reality of “the common good”.

2 comments on “Making a reality of the common good”

  1. Perfect. I admire the people of UK for their love of the common good.

    I suppose that the definition of Gaudium et Spes was influenced by Bernard Lonergan SJ, but I cannot prove it.

    Another nice definition of common good is the one of Cicero: “Res Publica”.

    1. Many thanks Giuseppe. The Cicero definition is also, I think, the inspiration for the name of the Commonwealth, deriving from “common weal” (‘weal’ meaning prosperity, good fortune or welfare), a name which in turn drives the philosophy of that organisation of 54 states of which The Queen is Head.

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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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