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Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

Part of UK in Holy See

10th July 2015

Pope Francis and Bolivia

PopeBolivia
Pope Francis in Bolivia, July 2015

The following is a guest blog by Steve Townsend, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy to the Holy See

Pope Francis is currently in Latin America, visiting Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay. There is a particular interest for me, as I spent over three years in Bolivia as Deputy Head of Mission, which left me with many fond memories of the country.

Bolivia is a fascinating place, with a wide diversity of landscape and culture. It is also a country which has gone through huge social and political changes since President Morales was elected President in 2006. It is still one of the poorest countries on the continent, and many of Pope Francis’ messages from his encyclical “Laudato Si” will have a strong resonance there, especially those about the poor and the excluded.

The environmental messages have a particular relevance, as Bolivia has been affected by climate change – droughts, floods, and most seriously the retreat of the glaciers which provide the water for the cities of La Paz and El Alto.

Pope Francis has received an enthusiastic welcome in Bolivia, both in La Paz and in Santa Cruz, and he expressed his joy in encountering “a land of such singular beauty”. The Mass in Santa Cruz included elements in Guaraní, Quechua, and Aymara as well as Spanish, reflecting some of the indigenous languages of the country.

I must admit that my first concern, when I heard that Pope Francis was going to La Paz was whether the altitude would affect him (the airport is at 4,200 metres above sea level). But his energy is amazing, even though the attached picture shows that even he can be affected by the cold!

1 comment on “Pope Francis and Bolivia”

  1. It is most interesting to receive this further information on Pope Francis’ visit to Latin America – and from one who knows! Many thanks.

Comments are closed.

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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"latin america" "pope bolivia" "steve townsend" "uk bolivia" bolivia catholic development Ecuador papal trip paraguay pope francis

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