Baker for Vatican posting

Nigel Marcus Baker OBE., MVO., career diplomat has been appointed to the post of British Ambassador to the Holy See.

This from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website:-

"He will succeed Mr Francis Campbell who has transferred to another Diplomatic Service appointment.  Mr Baker will take up his appointment during August 2011.
Mr Baker is a career member of HM Diplomatic Service. He joined the FCO in 1989, since when his career has taken him principally to Central Europe and Latin America, most recently as HM Ambassador to Bolivia. Mr Baker also worked in the Private Office of HRH The Prince of Wales from 2003 to 2006. Between 1996 and 1998 he lived and worked in Italy on an academic sabbatical.
On his appointment as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Mr Baker has said:
"I am delighted and honoured to be taking up this posting. The last few years have seen the development of a strong and fruitful global partnership between the United Kingdom and the Holy See.
"The historic visit of Pope Benedict XVI in September 2010 reinforced that relationship and opened new avenues for bilateral and multilateral collaboration. I look forward to the challenge of deepening our engagement across the many issues on which we work together."

Curriculum vitae

Full name:	Nigel Marcus Baker OBE MVO
Married to:	Alexandra (Sasha) Baker
Children:	One son
Sep 2007 - to present	British Embassy La Paz, Her Majesty’s Ambassador
Oct 2003 - Nov 2006	British Embassy Havana, Deputy Head of Mission
Jun 2000 - Apr 2003	Assistant Private Secretary to HRH The Prince of Wales
Jun 1998 - Jun 2000	FCO, Head of European Defence Section, Security Policy Department
Mar 1998 - Jun 1998	FCO, UK EU Presidency
Aug 1993 - Jan 1996	British Embassy Bratislava, Deputy Head of Mission
Feb 1992 - Aug 1993	British Embassy Prague, Second Secretary (Economic),
Jun 1990 - Jun 1991	FCO, Desk Officer, Near East and North Africa Department
September 1989	Joined Foreign & Commonwealth Office

Smart Lad wanted for light duties as HM Ambassador to the Holy See



Britain's outgoing Ambassador to the Holy See

 Hmmm. Her Majesty's current Ambassador to the Vatican, Francis Campbell, has made a right fist of it with his (alleged)  silly comments regarding the Ordinariate and how British Catholics are likely to be subject to 'violence' from those opposed to the Holy Father's plans. What can we expect? A beating about the head with a copy of the King James Book of Prayer? A bit of waterboarding in the Baptismal font? Or, maybe, the old mafiosi custom of decapitating the presbytery cat and slipping the head into Father's bed? Oh no, not that!

Hardly a "streets running with blood" announcement, but, if he made it, it was a poor assessment of the situation.
Which brings me to the main point, our PM, Mr C, has a vacancy for the post of Ambassador to the Vatican State and I would, most humbly and obsequieously, like to put myself forward for it.
I am well qualified, I've been to Rome (once) and met with Pope Benedict (OK, he was 500 metres away and 4 stories up while I was in the throng below) but I think of it as a meeting of minds (?) I can speak a bit of the old Eytie...well, almost. What is more, I like a good cocktail and would thrive on the Ambassadorial circuit; I scrub up well (according to my wife who is coping well with her myopia) and I know the terminology inside out - Cardinal (Your Eminence), Archbishop (Your Grace) and Bishop......  well, you don't want to know that! What more could a candidate require.

What's that? You want a Church going Catholic? OK, I fit the bill there, I go to an Extraordinary form of Mass every Sund.........the door? You mean the interview is over?.........what was it I said?