This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience Her Excellency Ms. Despina Poulou, ambassador of Greece 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. Despina Poulou
Ambassador of Greece to the Holy See

Her Excellency Ms. Despina Poulou was born on 15 June 1970 in Athens. She is married and has one daughter.

She studied law at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

She has held the following offices: attaché, Diplomatic Office of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (1997); Directorate for Greek-Turkish Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1998); Third Secretary, Consulate General in New York (1999 – 2002); Second Secretary, Department of Human Resources, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2002 – 2003); Second and later First Secretary, Embassy in Albania (2003 – 2006); First Secretary and later Second Counsellor, Embassy in Japan (2006 – 2009); Second Counsellor, and later First Counsellor, Directorate for European Foreign Affairs (2009 - 2011); First Counsellor, Embassy in Germany (2011 – 2016); Minister Counsellor, Embassy in the Russian Federation (2016 – 2019); Minister Counsellor, Inspectorate General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2019); Minister Counsellor and later Minister, Embassy in Sweden (2019 – 2023); and Minister, Directorate for South-Eastern Europe (2023 – 2025).