杏MAP导航

By Linda Bordoni

She鈥檚 smart, she鈥檚 with it, she鈥檚 the youngest ambassador the Vatican has ever welcomed to be part of its diplomatic corps鈥� her name is Chiara Porro, and she is the new Australian Ambassador to the Holy See.

Speaking to Vatican Radio as she goes about 鈥渟ettling in鈥� and learning the ropes in a new and challenging environment, 36-year-old Ambassador Porro told me she also happened to be one of the first to be received by 杏MAP导航 Francis in a person-to-person meeting after months of coronavirus lockdown.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 possibly why he was so generous with his time,鈥� she modestly said, recalling her audience with the 杏MAP导航 in August when she presented her credentials. 

When I asked her what her priorities are as she begins her mandate to nurture and strengthen the bilateral relationship between the Holy See and Australia, the Ambassador said that right now, 鈥淚t's difficult to set out any priorities without thinking of the coronavirus context, as this pandemic has affected every aspect of our lives.鈥�

Coronavirus response

Ambassador Porro, who is trained as a career diplomat and already has a good number of postings under her belt, is the only resident ambassador to the Holy See from the whole Pacific region. She is convinced that Australia has much to contribute to the global coronavirus response, and that, she said, is one of her top priorities as she begins to 鈥渢hink and work with the Holy See.鈥�

She mentioned how early in the crisis, Australia very quickly pivoted its development assistance to the most urgent needs of the weakest, immediately setting up humanitarian corridors throughout the region with which to provide support.

鈥淎s you can imagine the small Pacific island countries are very dependent on supplies coming in from outside, and with travel shutdown, there was a real need for food, medicines,鈥� she said, explaining that the Australian government also put a lot of resources into providing PPE and training for health workers, as well as working with all the countries of the region affected by travel restrictions.

Migration

Another area in which the ambassador is convinced her country has much experience to share concerns specific mobility programmes for people on the move, a humanitarian sector 杏MAP导航 Francis has close to his heart.

鈥淭hey call it the Seasonal Work Programme and this has been going on for years, but it was particularly relevant during the pandemic because we were able to pivot and have some of these workers work in aged care and other health care sectors,鈥� making it, she said, 鈥渁 real mechanism to enable opportunities.鈥�

Thanks to this system, she said workers can get visas to work with various sectors while directing those resources to where they are most needed thus allowing everyone to benefit. It also shows local populations that there is a need for migrants to come in and support the economy, she added. 

Human trafficking

Ambassador Porro said that amongst her meetings and contacts with various Vatican offices so far, she has met with the Covid-19 Commission established by the 杏MAP导航 and had interesting conversations, particularly with the Dicastery for Promoting Human Integral Development, where she engaged in conversations regarding the suffering of migrants and refugees. 

The fight against human trafficking is another area in which she says the Holy See and Australia can productively work together, as 鈥淎ustralia has put a lot of effort into stopping people smuggling鈥� she said, admitting its methods have sometimes been controversial. 鈥淏ut we were able to break the cycle and I think that's a positive thing.鈥�

Above all, the ambassador said, she is excited to be able to have the opportunity to work with the Holy See and its global diplomatic network that provides so much scope in working to promote values like the common good and human fraternity.

Especially in light of a post-pandemic world, she said, and at a time in which we see increasing tensions and nationalism, 鈥渋t is absolutely fundamental鈥� to uphold those basic principles and values. 

The Holy See and Australia

On the other hand, the Holy See, she said, is very interested in watching how Australia manages its relationships and how it plays its role in the region.

Ambassador Porro noted the strategic and delicate position of Australia and its Pacific partners that are currently  鈥渞ight at the centre of the China-US dynamic鈥� and she explained that her country has a complex role to play as it finds itself at the centre of global politics.

Another perspective that is of interest, in particular to the 杏MAP导航, she said, is the fact that the Pacific is a 鈥渇rontier鈥� region and its populations are directly and powerfully affected by environmental issues.

鈥淚 think there's a real space for a Pacific voice here, and that also links-in with the fifth anniversary of Laudato sì鈥�, she said.

Ultimately, Ambassador Porro explained, she sees her job as providing a link to her area of concern, 鈥渇acilitating connections, bringing expertise from our region, finding avenues for collaborations, for projects, translating some of the Holy See鈥檚 policies and agendas and seeing where they align.鈥�

Particularly with 杏MAP导航 Francis, she said, there are lots of opportunities to do things together on the global stage, and while there may be sensitive issues and areas where the Australian government and the Holy See don鈥檛 agree, there are is much work to be done.

An important mission for Australia

And from the opposite perspective, the Ambassador is convinced her government cares deeply about this mission and finds it important. She revealed it is part of her role to demonstrate the value of having a presence here at the Holy See and to communicate the influence of 杏MAP导航 Francis and his message across the world and the Pacific region.

It鈥檚 only a half-joke, she noted, when she says 鈥渋t鈥檚 the post with the largest diaspora鈥� because of the number of Catholic communities back in Australia and across the Pacific region who, she said, 鈥渁re very interested in what she is doing here.鈥�

鈥淪o there's definitely still a role for me to explain our purpose and the value we bring from being represented here, but there are lots of opportunities for work.鈥� It鈥檚 a question, she concluded, 鈥渁bout prioritising and really focusing on where we can add value.鈥�