This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Francis received in audience Her Excellency Ms. Manuela Leimgruber, ambassador of Switzerland to the Holy See, on the occasion of the presentation of her credential letters.

The following is a brief biography of the new ambassador:

Her Excellency Ms. Manuela Leimgruber
Ambassador of Switzerland to the Holy See

Her Excellency Ms. Manuela Leimgruber was born in 1971, and originates from Herznach, Canton Aargau. She is married with a child.

She holds a degree in law from the University of Fribourg and an LL.M. in European law from the Collège d'Europe in Bruges, Belgium.

She has held, among others, the following positions: she began her diplomatic career with the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) in 2001 and then, before serving as diplomatic collaborator in the Directorate of Public International Law of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, she was posted to the Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel. She served as head of political affairs and legal matters at the Embassy in Italy (2006 - 2010); head for policy coordination with neighbouring countries, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (2010 - 2015); deputy head of mission of the Embassy in Colombia (2015 - 2019); and deputy head of mission of the Embassy in Kenya (2019 - 2023).