Rome, Italy, Oct 21, 2013 / 09:39 am
The recently appointed American ambassador to the Holy See presented his credentials to Pope Francis in a meeting earlier this morning, officially marking the beginning of his duties.
"The Vatican and the Holy Father have the ability to influence world events in a positive way through the calling of faith and they will continue to be important partners in future collaboration," U.S. ambassador Kenneth F. Hackett stated in an Oct. 21 press release announcing the event.
Hackett was nominated in June by President Barack Obama to serve as the 10th ambassador to the Vatican, and was unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate in an Aug. 1 evening session.
He will be taking over for Miguel H. Diaz, who left the diplomatic post in Nov. 2012 to become the Professor of Faith and Culture at the University of Dayton, in Ohio.