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Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

Part of UK in Holy See

17th June 2013

Universal and Individual: Pope and PM address “the golden thread of development” before the G8 Summit

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G8 logo with Lough Erne, Northern Ireland

In an exchange of letters on the eve of the Lough Erne G8 Summit, Pope Francis and Prime Minister David Cameron have shared detailed analysis of what needs to be done to tackle the economic and political challenges faced by the world today.

The Prime Minister took the initiative to inform the Pope on 5 June of the agenda for Britain’s G8 Presidency. Responding to Pope Francis’s eloquent arguments in homilies, messages and speeches since his election about the need to rebalance the global economy, help the poor and disadvantaged, and find people work, David Cameron noted that these priorities were shared by the UK. “I am determined”, David Cameron wrote, “that our G8 agenda will lead to real benefits for the global economy and will help people in developed and developing countries alike … by restoring strong and sustainable growth to the world economy by practical action on fairer taxes, freer trade, and greater global transparency”. He called on governments, business and faiths to “travel together” for good governance and justice, poverty alleviation and economic growth that promotes social inclusion.

Pope Francis replied on 15 June to welcome Britain’s efforts to ensure that “attention to the human person” remains at the heart of our global political and economic efforts. The Pope insisted that “concern for the fundamental material and spiritual welfare of every human person is the starting-point for every political and economic solution and the ultimate measure of its effectiveness and its ethical validity”. And, echoing a phrase used frequently by David Cameron looking at the post-2015 international development agenda, Pope Francis recognised the significance of respect for the law, transparency and government responsibility as “the golden thread of development” for the future.

What is striking about the exchange is not so much that Prime Minister and Pope agree on so much – though there is that – but its universality. The Prime Minister wrote to the Pope before Lough Erne because the United Kingdom recognises that the Pope speaks like no other world leader to a global constituency, Catholic and non-Catholic alike. This is important for us, because when the UK addresses issues like sexual violence in conflict, malnutrition, free trade or government transparency, we do so at a global, not parochial level. Pope Francis has argued how the individual human being must be at the heart of global economic and political policies. The UK agrees that by addressing such issues at a global level, governments can and should improve the lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals.

1 comment on “Universal and Individual: Pope and PM address “the golden thread of development” before the G8 Summit

  1. Have a beautiful and successful day …..hoping and praying for the children of the world……that they can live good and healthy lives…..with the help of G8…..x

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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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