Miguel Humberto Díaz, U.S. Ambassador-Designate to the Holy See

27 August 2009

U.S. Ambassador-Designate to the Holy See arrives in Rome, August 27, 2009

The Embassy of the United States of America to the Holy See
Office of Public Affairs

For immediate release

Rome, August 27 – The U.S. Ambassador-Designate to the Holy See, Dr. Miguel Humberto Díaz, arrived with his family this morning at Fiumicino International Airport. He was sworn in as Ambassador on August 21 in Washington D.C., and will assume his full duties upon presentation of his letter of credentials from President Barack Obama to the Holy Father.

“I look forward to the coming weeks as my family and I put down new roots in Rome. I will be honored to serve President Obama and the American people in my new role, and it will be a unique honor to meet his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI,” Ambassador-Designate Díaz said.

“I welcome the opportunity to deepen and expand upon the special relationship that has evolved between the United States and the Vatican over the past 25 years of formal diplomatic ties,” Ambassador-Designate Díaz said.

The U.S. Embassy to the Holy See works closely with the Vatican on a broad range of shared priorities, such as religious freedom, inter-faith dialogue, peace and security, trafficking in persons, the environment, human rights and global health.

The U.S. Embassy will work with the Vatican to establish a date as soon as possible for Ambassador-Designate Díaz to present his credentials letter to the Holy Father. The Embassy will announce that date when it is confirmed. Until then, and in keeping with protocol requirements, Ambassador-Designate Díaz will refrain from granting interviews or participating in official events.