Poland’s new ambassador to Holy See presents credentials to Pope Francis
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday received in audience Poland’s new ambassador
to the Holy See Piotr Nowina-Konopka who presented his letters of credential to the
Holy Father. The Polish representative officially bears the office of Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland to the Holy See and the
Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta.
The
new ambassador is expected to facilitate the planning of the next World Youth Day
celebrations which as Pope Francis announced at the close of WYD2013 in Brazil, will
be held in Krakow, Poland in 2016.
According to the Polish Foreign Ministry,
Piotr Nowina Konopka was “engaged in the democratic opposition movement” in the 1980s.
He collaborated with the NSZZ Solidarność Centre for Social and Vocational Work. After
the imposition of martial law, he assisted Lech Wałęsa, Chairman of Solidarność, as
his press spokesman, interpreter and advisor.
He served as minister of state
in the Chancellery of President Jaruzelski, has been active in local Polish politics
and represented his country in its bid to gain EU membership.
In 2009, he was
assigned to Washington D.C. by the President of the European Parliament and the General
Secretary with a mission to create and head the European Parliament Liaison Office
with US Congress. He served in this role until October 2012.