Pope welcomes new French ambassador

(May 18, 2012) Pope Benedict XVI on Friday welcomed France’s new ambassador to the Holy See, Bruno Joubert. At a formal ceremony in the Vatican, Joubert presented his credentials to the Pope, thus beginning his diplomatic mission. The 61-year old diplomat, a father four children, has served as ambassador to Morocco and secretary at the French embassy in the United States. Bruno Joubert who speaks English and Spanish besides his native French, has also held important positions in various ministries of the French government. Joubert began his new job three days after François Hollande was sworn in as France’s new president on Tuesday. Pope Benedict XVI congratulated Hollande hoping France will continue to be, "a factor of peace and solidarity in the active search for the common good, respect for life and the dignity of every person and all peoples," in Europe and the international community, demonstrating special solidarity with the world’s poorest nations.