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Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

Part of UK in Holy See

29th October 2014

Parliament comes to the Holy See

Santegidio_cropped
The All Party Parliamentary Group on the Holy See meets representatives of Sant’Egidio community. 28 October 2014

This week I shall be hosting the regular visit of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Holy See, representatives of a large group of British parliamentarians – from both Houses of Parliament – keen to help strengthen and develop the relationship between the UK and the Holy See.

It is always a fascinating visit. The group brings perspectives from across the political spectrum, and reflects the plurality and complexity of debates in Parliament on the wide range of global issues of interest to the global Holy See network.

This year, the group will meet senior Holy See officials including Cardinal Pell, the Secretary for the Economy spearheading financial reform at the Vatican, and Cardinal Baldisseri, the Secretary of the recently concluded Synod on the Family that generated headlines across the world. They will meet the Holy See Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Mamberti, to discuss international affairs, from Ukraine to Iraq, Africa to Latin America. They will receive briefings from crucial networks involved in humanitarian and conflict prevention work, including Sant’Egidio, Global Freedom Network, and the Jesuit Refugee Service. And they will also meet a cross-section of British and other people working here at the Vatican, from Rectors and students of Colleges to staff at Vatican Radio, as well as attend the Pope’s weekly General Audience.

Are such visits useful? For the embassy, undoubtedly, not only illustrating the range of our engagement with the Holy See, but reinforcing to our hosts the intense interest in Parliament in priority issues of mutual concern, from international development to freedom of religion. For the parliamentarians, because they get the chance to meet and talk at first hand with Holy See network decision-makers. And, I hope, also for our hosts, who get a feel for the views of Parliament, and can raise with MPs and peers issues of importance to them. I see it as a three way dialogue, improving our mutual understanding.

You are very welcome to follow the visit as it unfolds. Just visit our Twitter account @UKinHolySee

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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