Address of the Holy Father
Curriculum vitae of the new Ambassadors
At 10.00 this morning, in the Clementine Hall of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Francis received in audience the Ambassadors of Yemen, New Zealand, Swaziland, Azerbaijan, Chad, Liechtenstein and India, on the occasion of the presentation of their credential letters.
The following is the address the Pope addressed to the new ambassadors, and a brief biography of each one:
Address of the Holy Father
Your Excellencies,
I extend a warm welcome to all of you for this presentation of the Letters accrediting you as Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Holy See on the part of your respective countries: Yemen, New Zealand, Swaziland, Azerbaijan, Chad, Liechtenstein and India. I would ask you to convey to the Heads of State of your respective countries my sentiments of appreciation and esteem, and to assure them of my prayers for them and the people they serve.
At the beginning of your new mission, I am conscious of the diverse countries you represent, and of the various cultural and religious traditions that characterize the history of each of your nations. This gives me the opportunity to emphasize the positive and constructive role that such diversity plays in the concert of nations. The international community faces a series of complex threats to the sustainability of the environment and of the world’s social and human ecology, as well as risks to peace and concord stemming from violent fundamentalist ideologies and regional conflicts, which often appear under the guise of opposing interests and values. Yet it is important to remember that the diversity of the human family is not itself a cause of these challenges to peaceful coexistence. Indeed the centrifugal forces that would drive peoples apart are not found in their differences but in the failure to set out on the path of dialogue and understanding as the most effective means of responding to these challenges.
Your very presence here is a reminder of the key role that dialogue plays in enabling diversity to be lived in an authentic and mutually enhancing way in our increasingly globalized society. Respectful communication leads to cooperation, especially in fostering reconciliation where it is most needed. This cooperation in turn assists the progress of that solidarity which is the condition for the growth of justice and due respect for the dignity, rights and aspirations of all. A commitment to dialogue and cooperation must be the hallmark of every institution of the international community, as well as of every national and local institution, for all are charged with the pursuit of the common good.
The promotion of dialogue, reconciliation and cooperation cannot be taken for granted. The delicate art of diplomacy and the arduous craft of nation-building need to be learned afresh with each new generation. We share the collective responsibility to educate our young people about the importance of these principles that sustain the social order. Passing this precious legacy on to our children and grandchildren will not only secure a peaceful and prosperous future but will also meet the demands of intergenerational justice and of that integral human development that is the right of every man, woman and child.
Dear Ambassadors, as you take up your high responsibilities in the service of your nations, I assure you of the support of the various offices of the Holy See. I offer you my prayerful best wishes for your important work, and upon you, your families, and all your fellow citizens, I willingly invoke an abundance of divine blessings. Thank you.
Curriculum vitae of the new Ambassadors
H.E. Mr. Yahia Mohammed Abdullah AL-SHAIBI
Ambassador of Yemen to the Holy See
Mr. Yahia Mohammed Abdullah Al-Shaibi was born in Aden, Yemen, on 27 April 1952.
He is married and has five children.
He graduated in chemistry teaching (Al-Fateh University, Tripoli, Libya, 1977), subsequently obtaining a master’s degree in physical chemistry (Tuskegee Institute, Alabama, USA, 1980) and a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry (University of South Carolina, USA, 1984).
He has held the following offices, inter alia: demonstrator at the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Sana’a University (1978); assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Sana’a University (1980); assistant professor of analytical chemistry, Faculty of Science, Sana’a University (1984); scientific consultant in the Faculty of Sciences (1984-1986); president of the Central Research Laboratories (1985-1988); deputy dean for Student Affairs (1986-1988); associate professor of analytical chemistry, Faculty of Science, Sana’a University (1989); assistant vice-rector, Sana'a University (1988-1992); assistant vice-rector for Academic Affairs, Sana'a University (1992-1993); cultural attaché in Egypt (1993-1995); deputy dean for Student Affairs (1996-1997); professor of analytical chemistry, Faculty of Science, Sana’a University (1998); Minister of Education (1997-2001); Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research (2001-2003); Governor of Aden (2003-2006); Minister of State and Governor of Sana’a (2006-2008); Minister of Public Administration and Insurance (2008-2011); Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research (2011-2012); Professor of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Sana’a University (2012-2016); Ambassador to Berlin, where he has resided since 2016.
Foreign languages spoken: Arabic and English.
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H.E. Mr. Andrew JENKS
Ambassador of New Zealand to the Holy See
Mr. Andrew Jenks was born in 1968 and is married with three children.
He graduated in law from the University of Otago, and then obtained a master’s degree from the Victoria University of Wellington.
He has held the following offices, among others: US Desk Officer, Americas Division at the MFA, Wellington (1993-1994); legal counsel, legal division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Wellington (1994-1996); legal advisor, Environmental Law Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs, Ottawa (1996-1997); second Secretary and later third Embassy Secretary in Jakarta (1997-2000); senior legal Advisor, legal division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Wellington (2001); Commercial Policy Consultant, Econ Analys AB, Stockholm (2002-2003); political analyst at the National Chamber of Commerce, Stockholm (2003-2004); head of High-Level Policies, hegal division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Wellington (2005-2006); deputy director, legal division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Wellington (2006-2008); deputy Permanent Representative to the OECD, Paris (from 8 June to 12 July 2008); unit director, Commercial Negotiation Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Wellington (12 October 2008 to 15 June 2009); unit director, Europe Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Wellington (from 15 June to 16 October 2009); and since October 2016, Ambassador to Spain, Andorra, Malta and Morocco.
He speaks English.
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H.E. Mr. Sibusisiwe MNGOMEZULU
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Swaziland to the Holy See
Mr. Sibusisiwe Mngomezulu was born in Manzini, Swaziland, on 25 December 1973. He is married and has two children.
He holds a degree in social science (economics) (University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 1996), a master’s degree in business administration (finance) (US International University, San Diego, 2000) and a postgraduate diploma in project management (School of Business Management, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2003).
After having worked in the industrial, financial and commercial field (2000-2013), he held the following positions: counsellor of the High Commission Office in Malaysia (2014-2016); High Commissioner in Malaysia (2016-2017); and Ambassador to the European Union in Brussels, where he resides (since May 2017).
Foreign languages known: French, English and Siswati.
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H.E. Mr. Rahman Sahib oglu MUSTAFAYEV
Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Holy See
Mr. Rahman Sahib oglu Mustafayev was born in Baku on 26 September 1963, and is married with two children.
He graduated in international economic relations from the State Institute of International Relations in Moscow (1985). He then obtained a doctorate in History (1993) and attended the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (2003-2006).
He has held the following offices, among others: attaché with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the USSR (1987-1991); embassy official in Sudan (1991-1992); director of the Department of International Relations at the newspaper “Azadliq” (Freedom), in Baku (1992-1993); director of the Department for the Information Service of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan (1993-1994); first Embassy Secretary at the Russian Federation (1994-1997); head of the Department of International Relations at the State Committee for the question of ownership (1997-1999); embassy counsellor in the Russian Federation (2000-2006); deputy director of the Directorate for Europe and the Americas at the Minister of Foreign Affairs (2006); director of the Directorate for Europe and the Americas at the Minister of Foreign Affairs (2006-2009); Ambassador to Greece (2009-2017); and currently, Ambassador to France (since 23 June 2017).
Foreign languages known: Arabic, French, Greek, English and Russian.
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H.E. Mr. Amine ABBA SIDICK
Ambassador of the Republic of Chad to the Holy See
Mr. Amine Abba Sidick was born in Abéché, Chad, on 30 June 1953, and is married with seven children.
He holds a Ph.D. in mathematics from Senegal (1985) and has worked as a university lecturer in Senegal, Ivory Coast and Gabon.
Among other things, he held the following positions: counsellor to the Presidency of the Republic (1996-1997); director of the Civilian Department at the Presidency of the Republic (1997-2000); Ambassador to Egypt (2000-2004); secretary general of the Inter-Parliamentary Commission of the Central African Economic and Monetary Commission (CEMAC) (2007-2010); secretary general of the Community Parliament of CEMAC (2010-2015); Ambassador to France (from March 2017).
Foreign languages known: Arabic, French and English.
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H.E. Prince Stefan von und zu Liechtenstein
Ambassador of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Holy See
Prince Stefan von und zu Liechtenstein was born in Klagenfurt, Austria, on 14 November 1961. He is married with four children.
He graduated with the title of Magister in business administration from the University of Innsbruck in 1987.
He has held the following offices: director at the Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS), Zurich (1988-1991); director at the Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS), Frankfurt (1991-1995), head of family tourism project in Austria (1995-2001), Ambassador to Switzerland (2001-2007), Ambassador to Germany (March 2007- July 2017).
He founded in 2015 and is president of Liechtenstein Languages, a project that aims to improve language courses and integration for refugees and migrants in Europe, by introducing an efficient learning method.
Foreign languages known: English, Italian and German.
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H.E. Mr. Sibi GEORGE
Ambassador of India to the Holy See
Mr. Sibi George was born on 20 May 1967, and is married with three children.
He holds a first degree and a master’s degree in political sciences.
He has held, among other things, the following positions: official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1993-1995); third and subsequently second Embassy secretary in Egypt (1995-1998); first Embassy secretary in Qatar (1998-2001); deputy secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2001-2004); first secretary and later counsellor of the Embassy in Pakistan (2004-2007); Embassy counsellor in Washington DC (USA) (2007-2010); deputy head of Embassy Mission in Iran (2010-2012); minister and subsequently deputy head of Embassy Mission in Saudi Arabia (2012-2014); under-secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2014-2017); Ambassador to Switzerland (since November 2017)
In addition to his native language (Malayalam) he speaks: Arabic, Hindi, English and Tamil.
