A farewell reception was held in Rome last week for Chiara Porro at the conclusion of her four-and-a-half-year term as Australian Ambassador to the Holy See. Source: L’Osservatore Romano.
The event was held on November 13 at the Casa dei Cavalieri di Rodi (House of the Knights of Rhodes) in Rome, a centuries-old building with a massive Loggia that offers a stunning view of the ruins of the Forum of Augustus.
Ms Porro, the only resident ambassador to the Holy See from the Pacific region, said it was a “great privilege” to have served in the Eternal City and address a number of issues, from combatting climate change, to promoting women’s empowerment and equality.
She also recalled leading a variety of initiatives throughout 2023 to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties between Australia and the Holy See.
Ms Porro said these projects expanded “across a vast array of activities: from education to healthcare to culture and sport”.
She noted that “partnership and collaboration is not something we should take for granted”, and emphasised that “dialogue and understanding need to be cultivated”.
Another important moment she noted was the meeting between Aboriginal elder Dr Miriam Rose Ungunmerr-Bauman and Pope Francis.
“We sought to amplify First Nations voices as a key expression of Australia’s foreign policy”, Ms Porro said.
Australia was a country that “draws strength from its multiculturalism”, and every person present at the event was connected “to the multifaceted life of the Holy See”, a place rich in diversity.
Following Ms Porro’s speech, Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, expressed his gratitude for her service.
Even if moments like this are “bittersweet”, Archbishop Gallagher said, they are also opportunities “to recall the hard work and fond memories” of the time spent together. “Australia holds a special place in my heart”, he said, recalling his stay in the country as the Apostolic Nuncio to Australia from 2012 to 2014.
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A kind and warm smile (By Anna Morghen, L’Osservatore Romano)
