Pope Francis receives Poland’s new ambassador to Holy See

Vatican City, 10 September 2013: Pope Francis received in audience Poland’s new ambassador to the Holy See Piotr Nowina-Konopka on Monday. He presented his letters of credential to the Pontiff on the occasion.

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, and 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.

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.
Source: VR Sedoc