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Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

Part of UK in Holy See

7th May 2014

Young people at the Vatican

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HM Ambassador Nigel Baker pictured with students and staff of the Cambridge Muslim College (5 May 2014)

Old-fashioned stereotypes, especially when embedded in media narratives, die very hard. One of those is that faith-based institutions, especially Christian churches, have little to say to young people in our Western secularised world.

I have to say that this has not been my experience in nearly three years accredited to the Holy See. Of course, a 2,000 year old institution is deeply concerned for its traditions, its history, and the teaching of its leaders. In the global Catholic Church, the latter – at least the clerics – tend to be older men. Add a dose of metro-media irreverence and scepticism, and one can see how the stereotype is easily buttressed.

Yet over the last few days the focus of my embassy has been very much on younger people and their encounters with the Holy See. Earlier this week, I received a group of students from the Cambridge Muslim College, young men and women from across the UK who are learning about Islam in the context of Western society and culture. These future British imams and Muslim community leaders were keen to get to grips with the concerns of Christians, understand the role of the embassy, and be exposed to the phenomenon of the attraction of Pope Francis’ message. Their programme, which included attending the Papal General Audience, has brought them face to face with what they recognised as a live and vibrant global organisation.

They may have bumped into another group of young Britons at the same General Audience, post-graduates on an internship programme organised by the English and Welsh Catholic Bishops’ Conference, who are currently working in communications, with NGOs, and in parliamentary offices. We arranged for them to meet a cross-section of British people living and working in the Holy See, from clerics to university professors and broadcasters. The challenging and stimulating discussions that ensued showed that young British Catholics, just as much as young British Muslims, are thinking deeply about their future, their society, and the role of their faith as they forge career paths over the next few years.

Young people’s organisations are amongst the most dynamic of the many elements of the global Holy See network with which we deal, from Catholic schools and universities to pilgrimage parties, inter-faith organisations, prayer groups and professional bodies. They are a great antidote to scepticism and resignation in the face of our economic, social or political problems. And they have a lot to say. It’s worth listening.

2 comments on “Young people at the Vatican

  1. What a wonderful time we had at your residence. Thank you, Ambassador Baker for hosting us, it was a most informative and enjoyable lunch.

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About Nigel Baker

Nigel was British Ambassador to the Holy See from 2011-2016. He presented his Credentials to Pope Benedict XVI on 9 September 2011, after serving 8 years in Latin America, as…

Nigel was British Ambassador to the Holy See from 2011-2016. He presented his Credentials to Pope Benedict XVI on 9 September 2011, after serving 8 years in Latin America, as Deputy Head of Mission in the British Embassy in Havana, Cuba (2003-6) and then as British Ambassador in La Paz, Bolivia (2007-11). In July 2016, Nigel finished his posting, and is currently back in London.

As the first British Ambassador to the Holy See ever to have a blog, Nigel provided a regular window on what the Embassy and the Ambassador does. The blogs covered a wide range of issues, from Royal and Ministerial visits to Diplomacy and Faith, freedom of religion, human trafficking and climate change.

More on Nigel’s career

Nigel was based in London between 1998 and 2003. He spent two years on European Union issues (for the UK 1998 EU Presidency and on European Security and Defence questions), before crossing St James’s Park to work for three years as The Assistant Private Secretary to His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. At St James’s Palace, Nigel worked on international issues, including the management of The Prince of Wales’s overseas visits and tours, on the Commonwealth, interfaith issues, the arts and international development.

Nigel spent much of the early part of his FCO career in Central Europe, after an initial stint as Desk Officer for the Maghreb countries in the Near East and North Africa department (1990-91). Between 1992 and 1996, Nigel served in the British embassies in Prague and Bratislava, the latter being created in 1993 after the peaceful division of Czechoslovakia into the separate Czech and Slovak Republics.

Nigel joined the FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) in September 1989. Between 1996 and 1998 he took a two year academic sabbatical to research and write about themes in 18th century European history, being based in Verona but also researching in Cambridge, Paris and Naples. The research followed from Nigel’s time as a student at Cambridge (1985-88) where he read history and was awarded a First Class Honours degree, followed by his MA in 1992.

Before joining the Foreign Office, Nigel worked briefly for the Conservative Research Department in London at the time of the 1989 European election campaign.

Nigel married Alexandra (Sasha) in 1997. They have one son, Benjamin, born in Bolivia in September 2008.

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