At 10.00 this morning, the Holy Father Francis received in audience H.E. Mr. Pietro Sebastiani, ambassador of Italy to the Holy See, on the occasion of the presentation of his Credential Letters.
The following is a brief biography of the new ambassador:
H.E. Mr. Pietro Sebastiani
Ambassador of Italy to the Holy See
H.E. Mr. Pietro Sebastiani was born in Capannori, Lucca, on 28 March 1957. He is married with four children.
He graduated in political sciences with international specialisation, from the “Cesare Alfieri” University of Florence (28 October 1981), and subsequently attended courses in international economics at the University of Harvard and international journalism at the Columbia University of New York.
He has held the following offices: intern in the diplomatic career (1984-1985); third Secretary of the General Directorate for Cultural Relations (1985-1986); second Secretary and subsequently first Secretary at the Embassy in Moscow (1986-1988); vice consul (1988-1990) and adjunct consul in New York (1990-1993); member of the Cabinet of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs Andreatta and Elia (1993-1994); Counsellor of Legation (1994); secondment for course of higher professional training at the Diplomatic Institute (1994-1995); member of the Cabinet of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs Martino, Agnelli and Dini (1995-1997); counsellor to the Permanent Representation at UNESCO, Paris (1997-2000); Counsellor of Embassy (2000) and then First Counsellor, again in Paris (2000); first Counsellor of Embassy in Brussels (December 2000 to August 2001); Diplomatic Counsellor to the President of the Chamber of Deputies during the 14th legislature (2001-2005); Minister Plenipotentiary (2005); Diplomatic Counsellor to the President of the Interparliamentary Union in Geneva (2006-2008); head of the Permanent Representation at the United Nations in Rome, with rank of Ambassador (2008-2012); Ambassador in Madrid (2013-2016) and Andorra (2015-2016); Ambassador to the direct dependencies of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (March 2016 to August 2016); Director General for Development Cooperation (since August 2016).
Aside from Italian, he speaks French, English, Dutch, Russian, Spanish and German.
