The Villa Spada in Rome, home to the Irish Embassy to the Holy See. Ireland’s new ambassador to the Vatican is already working in Rome and will formally present his credentials to Pope Francis next month.
Ambassador-Designate Derek Hannon succeeds Emma Madigan as Irish Ambassador to the Holy See. Ms Madigan, who was appointed to the role in 2014, is widely acknowledged as having played a key role in smoothing diplomatic relations between Ireland and the Vatican after a period in which then Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore closed the Irish Embassy to the Holy See, ostensibly on grounds of expense.
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It was announced this June that Ms Madigan would return to Ireland to take up a post in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and on September 6 she presented her Letters of Recall to the Pope.
According to the department, Mr Hannon “has taken up duty at the Embassy to the Holy See and is due to formally present his credentials to His Holiness next month”.