At 9.00 this morning, in the Clementine Hall of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father received in audience, on the occasion of the presentation of their credential letters, Their Excellencies the Ambassadors of Uzbekistan, Moldova, Bahrain, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Liberia, Thailand, Lesotho, South Africa, Fiji, Micronesia, Latvia, and Finland.
The following is the Pope’s address to the new Ambassadors, and a brief biography of each one:
Address of the Holy Father
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Peace be with you!
[presentazione delle Lettere Credenziali da parte degli Ambasciatori]
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I offer a warm welcome to each of you on the occasion of the presentation of the Letters accrediting you as Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Holy See on behalf of your respective countries: Uzbekistan, Moldova, Bahrain, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Liberia, Thailand, Lesotho, South Africa, Fiji, Micronesia, Latvia and Finland. I kindly ask you to convey my respectful greetings to your Heads of State, together with the assurance of my prayers for them and your fellow citizens.
I am especially glad to meet you at the beginning of my pontificate and during this Jubilee year of Hope, a celebration that calls everyone “to recover the confident trust that we require, in the Church and in society, in our interpersonal relationships, in international relations, and in our task of promoting the dignity of all persons and respect for God’s gift of creation.” (Francis, Spes non Confundit, 25). From my first words as Bishop of Rome, I wished to recall the greeting of the Risen Lord Jesus —“Peace be with you” (Jn 20:19) — and to invite all peoples to pursue what I have called an “unarmed and disarming peace” (cf. Urbi et Orbi, 8 May 2025). Peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but “an active and demanding gift,” one that is “built in the heart and from the heart”; it calls each of us to renounce pride and vindictiveness and to resist the temptation to use words as weapons (cf. Audience to Members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See, 16 May 2025). This vision of peace has become all the more urgent, as geopolitical tension and fragmentation continue to deepen in ways that burden nations and that strain the bonds of the human family.
Furthermore, we must not forget that the poor and the marginalized suffer most from these upheavals. Indeed, “the measure of the greatness of a society is found in the way it treats those most in need” (cf. Francis, Visit to the Community of Varginha, 25 July 2013). In my Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi Te, I echoed the same conviction: that our world cannot afford to avert its gaze from those who are easily rendered invisible by rapid economic and technological change.
In this regard, I wish to reaffirm that the Holy See will not be a silent bystander to the grave disparities, injustices and fundamental human rights violations in our human and global community, which is increasingly more fractured and conflict-prone. Indeed, the Holy See’s diplomacy, shaped by the values of the Gospel, is consistently directed toward serving the good of humanity, especially by appealing to consciences and by remaining attentive to the voices of those who are poor, in vulnerable situations or pushed to the margins of society.
Your diplomatic mission, and the constructive relations between the Holy See and your nations, can offer real help in addressing these grave concerns. It is my particular hope that our cooperation will also contribute to a renewed spirit of multilateral engagement at a moment when it is sorely needed, revitalizing those international bodies established to resolve disputes among nations. I trust that together we may highlight the situations of those in need, those who are too often forgotten, and that our shared commitment will inspire the international community to lay the foundations for a more just, fraternal and peaceful world.
As you begin your mission to the Holy See, I assure you of the support of the Secretariat of State. May your service help to open new doors of dialogue, foster unity and advance that peace for which the human family so ardently longs. Upon you, your families and the peoples you represent, I willingly invoke abundant divine blessings.
Thank you.
Brief biographies of the new Ambassadors
His Excellency Mr. Farrukh TURSUNOV
Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the Holy See
His Excellency Mr. Farrukh Tursunov was born on 30 June 1973, and is married with three children.
He studied economics at the State University in Tashkent.
He attended the Higher School of Strategic Analysis and Forecasting of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
He has held the following offices: Accountant-Cashier, Administration Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1994); Inspector, Attaché, Third Secretary, Department of Political Analysis and Forecasting, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1994 – 1999); Third Secretary, Embassy in Great Britain (1999–2001); Third Secretary, Second Secretary, Department of Information and Analysis, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2001–2004); Intern at the Office of the National Security Council under the President of Uzbekistan (2004–2005); Head of the Department of Information and Analytical Support of the Main Directorate for Foreign Policy Analysis and Strategy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2005–2008); Ambassador to Kazakhstan (2008–2011); Ambassador to Japan (2012–2017); Acting Head, Head of the Main Directorate for Strategic Analysis and Planning, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2018–2020); Director of the Consolidated Information and Analysis Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2020–2023); Ambassador to Spain (2023–2024).
Her Excellency Ms. Gabriela MORARU
Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to the Holy See
Her Excellency Ms. Gabriela Moraru was born on 2 September 1972, and is married.
Academic training: Faculty of Philology at the State University of Moldova (1989-1994), Faculty of International Relations at the National Academy for Political and Administrative Studies, Bucharest, Romania (1994-1996), Master in International Relations at the Adriatic International College, Italy (1998), International Relations Courses at the Athens Diplomatic Academy, Greece (1999).
She has held the following positions: Second, then First Secretary, Department of Diplomatic Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1996–1999); Counsellor, Department of Diplomatic Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1999–2001); Counsellor for Political Affairs at the Moldovan Embassies in Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, the Holy See and the Danube Commission (2001–2004); Head of the State Protocol Department, MFA (2004–2006); Counsellor for Political Affairs at the Embassy of Moldova in Poland (2006–2009); Head of the Political Cooperation Division, Department for European Integration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2009); Head of the Regional Cooperation Division, Department for European Integration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2010–2011); Counsellor, Embassy in Estonia (2011–2014); Chief of Staff to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (2014–2015); Ambassador to Israel (2015–2021); Head of the Regional Cooperation Division, Department for European Integration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2021–2023); Head of the Eastern, Central and Southern Europe Division, Department of Bilateral Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2023–2024); Head of the Department of Bilateral Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2024); Ambassador to the Czech Republic (since September 2024).
His Excellency Mr. Essam Abdulaziz AL-JASSIM
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Holy See
His Excellency Mr. Essam Abdulaziz Al-Jassim was born in 1972, and is married with five children. He graduated in sciences from Pacific College, Fullerton, California (1995).
He began his diplomatic career in 1995, holding the following offices: Head of Consular Affairs at the Permanent Mission in Geneva (1999-2001), Head of the Protocol Section (2001-2004) and Director of Court Protocol of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the Kingdom (2004-2006), Head of Protocol at the Court of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the Kingdom (2006-2023), Ambassador in France (since 2024).
Her Excellency Ms. Himalee Subhashini ARUNATILAKA
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Holy See
Her Excellency Ms. Himalee Subhashini Arunatilaka is married, and Buddhist.
Academic training: BA from the University of the South (Sewanee), Tennessee, United States of America.
MA from Middlebury College-School, France.
She has also studied at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, Garmisch, Germany, the Daniel K. Inouye Asia Pacific Centre for Security Studies, Honolulu, Hawaii, and at the Pakistan Foreign Service Academy, Islamabad.
She has also held the following offices, among others: First Secretary, Permanent Mission at the United Nations in Geneva (2000-2003), Minister/Head of the Chancellery, Embassy in France (2006–2009); Director General, Political/European Affairs, CIS and Americas Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2010–2014); Director for Foreign Affairs, Secretariat of the President (2015); Deputy High Commissioner in Australia (2015–2018); Director-General, Africa Division, International Security & Counter-Terrorism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2019); Ambassador to Nepal (2019 – 2022).
His Excellency Mr. Marghoob Saleem BUTT
Ambassador of Pakistan to the Holy See
His Excellency Mr. Marghoob Saleem Butt was born on 5 December 1967, and is married with two children.
He graduated in political sciences from the University of the Punjab (2005) and was awarded a master’s degree in diplomatic studies from the University of Oxford, United Kingdom (2006) and a doctorate in legal sciences from the Peoples Friendship University of Russia (2013).
He entered the Foreign Affairs Service in 1995 and held the following offices: Protocol Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1997), Third Secretary, Embassy in Spain (1998), Desk Officer, European Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1999-2000), Second Secretary, Embassy in Mexico (2000-2003), Deputy Director, Iran-Turkey Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2003-2005), Director of the Office of the Ministry of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2006-2007), First Secretary, United Nations Mission in Geneva (2007-2010), Advisor, United Nations Mission in New York (2010-2013), Executive Director at the OIC Human Rights Commission, Jeddah (2013-2018), Director, Office for the United Nations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2018-2022), Director General and National Coordinator for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) (2022-2025).
Her Excellency Ms. Genevieve A. KENNEDY
Ambassador of the Republic of Liberia to the Holy See
Her Excellency Ms. Genevieve A. Kennedy was born in Monrovia on 19 November 1959. She belongs to the Baptist Church.
She graduated in political sciences from the University of Liberia in Monrovia, and was awarded a Master’s degree in international relations from the International University of Niigata, Japan.
She has held the following offices: Research/Desk Officer, Division of Afro-Asian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1986–1988); Coordinator, Division of Afro-Asian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1988–1990); First Secretary and Consul, Finance Officer, Embassy in Ethiopia (1990–1995); Counsellor and Finance Officer, Embassy in Ethiopia (1995 – 2005); Minister Counsellor and Head of Chancellery, Embassy in Great Britain (2005 – 2015); interim Chargé d'Affaires, Embassy in Great Britain (2015 – 2017); Ambassador to Ghana (2017–2021); and Ambassador-designate to Great Britain (since 2025).
Her Excellency Ms. Pannabha CHANDRARAMYA
Ambassador of Thailand to the Holy See
Her Excellency Ms. Pannabha Chandraramya was born on 3 November 1965.
She graduated in art (German) from Chulalongkorn University, and was awarded a Master’s degree in political sciences from Ramkhamhaeng University.
She has held the following offices: Lecturer III, Department of General Education (1988–1989); Attaché, News Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1990–1991); Attaché, then Third Secretary and later Personnel Officer IV, Personnel and Training Division at the Office of the Permanent Secretary (1992 – 1993); Vice Consul and later Consul, Consulate General in Berlin, Germany (1994 – 1997); Second and later First Secretary, Department of Information (1998 – 1999); Consul, Consulate General in Calcutta, India (2000 – 2001); First Secretary, Embassy in Switzerland (2002 – 2004); Counsellor, Press Division, Department of Information (2005–2007); Head of Secretariat, Department of Information (2008–2009); Minister-Counsellor in Norway (2010–2013); Director, Division I, Department of European Affairs (2014); Director, European Union Division, Department of European Affairs; Head, Department Secretariat, Department of European Affairs; Deputy Director General, Department of European Affairs (2015–2016); Ambassador to Israel (2019–2023); and Ambassador to Switzerland (since 2024).
Her Excellency Ms. Mafelile Christina MOLALA
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Lesotho to the Holy See
Her Excellency Ms. Mafelile Christina Molala was born on 16 May 1964 in Berea, Lesotho.
She graduated in art and education (B.A. Ed) in 1989 and was awarded a Master’s degree in development finance (MDevF) in 2014.
She has held the following offices: Accountant at Lesotho Business Services (1989–1991); Business Advisor, Basotho Enterprises Development Corporation (BEDCO) (1991–1994); Business Development Officer/Trainer, Lesotho Manufacturers Association (LMA) (1994–1997); Independent business development consultant in Zimbabwe (1997–2000); Business development expert, International Labour Organisation (2000–2005); Chief Technical Adviser, International Labour Organisation (2005–2006); Director, Royal Business Consult Trust (RBCT, Zimbabwe (2007 – 2016); Independent Business Development Consultant, Tanzania (2016 – 2019); Independent Business Development Consultant, Lesotho (2019 – 2025).
His Excellency Mr. Phaswana Cleopus Sello Moloto
Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to the Holy See
His Excellency Mr. Phaswana Cleopus Sello Moloto was born in 1964. He is married with five children.
He graduated in pharmacy.
He has held the following offices, among others: pharmacist at Mokopane Hospital, Limpopo (1992-1994); Member of the Senate (now National Council of Provinces, NCOP), Cape Town (1994-1996); Chief Executive Officer (now Municipal Manager), Bushveld District Council, Limpopo Province (1996-1999); Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Health and Wellbeing, Limpopo Province (1999-2004); Premier, Limpopo Province (2004-2009); Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) for the Congress of the People, Limpopo Province (2009-2011); High Commissioner in Mozambique (2011-2012); Ambassador in Finland, also with accreditation in Estonia (2012-2015); High Commissioner in Lesotho (2016-2022); and Ambassador in Switzerland (since 2022).
His Excellency Mr. Jovilisi Vulailal SUVEINAKAMA
Ambassador of the Republic of Fiji to the Holy See
His Excellency Mr. Jovilisi Vulailal Suveinakama was awarded a degree in law (LLB), specializing in public policy, from the University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.
He has held the following offices: attorney with Howards Lawyers, Suva, Fiji (1999-2003) and constitutional Advisor to the Government of Tokelau, Permanent Secretary for the local Government, supervising municipal governance and policy development in Fiji; after resigning from this office (2019), he stood as a candidate in the national general elections for the SODELPA Party (2002) and went on to serve as a member of the Rewal Provincial Council and member of the iTaukei Trust Fund Board (iTTFB) (2023); founder of Suveinakama Legal Practice, Fiji (before 2024), and High Commissioner in the United Kingdom (since March 2024).
His Excellency Mr. Akillino Harris SUSAIA
Ambassador of the Federated States of Micronesia to the Holy See
His Excellency Mr. Akillino Harris SUSAIA was born on 14 August 1957 in Pohnpei, and is married with four children.
He was awarded a degree in political sciences (1990) and a Master in Public Administration from the University of Oregon (1993).
He has held the following offices: Legislative Assistant, Pohnpei Legislature (1978–1988); Budget Officer, Pohnpei Legislature (1988–1996); Director General, Pohnpei Port Authority (1996–2000); Secretary, Department of Transportation, Communications and Infrastructure (2002–2005); Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (2005–2008); Consul General in Hawaii (2008–2010); Ambassador to the People's Republic of China (2010–2015); Ambassador to the United States of America (2017–2023); Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organizations and Ambassador to Switzerland, residing in Geneva (since 2024).
His Excellency Mr. Māris SELGA
Ambassador of Latvia to the Holy See
His Excellency Mr. Māris Selga was born in Tasi, Latvia, on 31 October 1966, and is married with two children.
He holds a licentiate in history (1993) and a doctorate from the Faculty of History and Philosophy, Department of Political Sciences, of the University of Latvia (1997).
He has held the following offices, among others: Head of Division, Ministry of Regional Development and Local Authorities (1993–1994); Adviser, Policy Planning Group, Foreign Ministry (1994–1995); Head of the Americas and Australia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1995 – 1997); First Secretary, Embassy in Denmark (1997–2000); Counsellor/European Correspondent, Third Political Directorate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2000–2002); Director, Second Political Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2002–2004); Counsellor, Embassy in the United States of America (2004–2008); Ambassador to Egypt (2008–2012) and to the League of Arab States (2008–2013); Non-resident Ambassador to Jordan (2008–2013); Permanent Observer to the African Union (2012–2013); Non-resident Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (2009–2017); Ambassador, Head of the Consular and Diplomatic Facilities Directorate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2012–2016); Ambassador to the People's Republic of China and Non-resident Ambassador to Vietnam and Mongolia (2016–2019); Ambassador to the United States of America and Permanent Observer at the Organization of American States (2019–2024); Non-resident Ambassador to the United Mexican States (2020–2024); Undersecretary of State, Director of Administration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2024–2025).
Her Excellency Ms. Sirpa OKSANEN
Ambassador of Finland to the Holy See
Her Excellency Ms. Sirpa Oksanen is married with four children. She is a Lutheran. She graduated in economics in 1997, and was awarded a master’s degree in political sciences from the University of Tampere, Finland.
She has held the following offices: Visa Officer, Embassy in Moscow, Russian Federation (1997); Office Assistant, Skanska Oyi, Moscow (1998); Office Manager, Metso Oyi, Moscow (1999–2000); Assistant, Department of Trade, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2002); Project Assistant, Department for Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2002); Attaché, Department for Europe, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2005); Second Secretary, Embassy in the Russian Federation (2006–2010); NATO Desk Officer, Political Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2010); Adviser to the Political Undersecretary of State and Political Director, Political Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2011); Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy in Slovenia (2013–2015); Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy in the Netherlands (2015–2019); Coordinator, Government Report on Finnish Foreign and Security Policy (2019–2020); Director, Eastern Europe and Central Asia Unit (2020–2024); Director, Eastern Europe Unit (2024–2025).
She knows Finnish, English, Swedish, Russian and German.
