This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience the Ambassador of Belgium to the Holy See, Her Excellency Ms. Caroline Vermeulen, on the occasion of the presentation of her credential letters.

The following is a brief biography of the new Ambassador:

Her Excellency Ms. Caroline Vermeulen
Ambassador of Belgium to the Holy See

Her Excellency Ms. Caroline Vermeulen was born on 13 October 1973, and is married with two children.

She holds a master’s degree in contemporary history from the Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, and from the Facultés Universitaires Saint Louis, Brussels (1991-1995), as well as a master’s degree in European studies from the Collège d’Europe, Bruges (1996).

She entered the diplomatic service in 1997 and has held the following offices:

- Attaché, Embassy in Japan (1998)

- at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1999)

- Attaché, Permanent Representation to the European Union (1999-2002)

- First Secretary, Embassy in the Russian Federation (2002-2004)

- Secretary to Her Majesty Queen Paola, Royal Palace, Brussels (2004-2011)

- Head of Office in the Republic of China (Taiwan) (2011-2015)

- Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy in the People’s Republic of China (2015-2019)

- Director for European External Relations, Directorate-General for European Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2019-2022)

- Ambassador to Austria, Slovakia and Slovenia, Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna (2022.2026)