At 10.00 this morning, the Holy Father Francis received in audience H.E. Mr. Julio Aníbal Riaño Velandia, ambassador of Colombia 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. Julio Aníbal Riaño Velandia
Ambassador of Colombia

H.E. Mr. Julio Aníbal Riaño Velandia was born on 3 March 1949 and is married with two children.

He graduated in international law and diplomacy from the Jorge Tadeo Lozano Universidad de Bogotà, then he received a master’s degree in regional economics from the Federal University of Brazil)

He has held, among others, the following offices: editorialist for issues concerning Amazonia; professor at the Javeriana University, Colombian Academy of History; director of theses of the Jorge Tadeo Lozano Universidad de Bogotà; university professor of diplomatic law, international protocol and politics, Jorge Tadeo Lozano Universidad de Bogotà; official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1974); deputy director of protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; adjunct director of protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; minister-embassy counsellor in Argentina; director general for Asia, Africa and Oceania at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; director general of protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1994-1999); ambassador to Costa Rica (1999-2006); director general of protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2006-2011); minister of the embassy in Mexico (2011-2013); and ambassador to Salvador (since 2013).

Foreign languages known: French, English, Italian and Portuguese.