A kind and warm smile

Many who worked with Ms Chiara Porro during her four-and-a-half-year term as Australian Ambassador to the Holy See can speak only of her kindness and warm smile; a woman with innumerable interests and great enthusiasm.

On Wednesday, 13 November, a farewell reception for the conclusion of her term was held at the impressive Casa dei Cavalieri di Rodi (House of the Knights of Rhodes) in Rome, a centuries-old building with a massive Loggia that offers a stunning view of the ruins of the Forum of Augustus.

Addressing those gathered at the event, Ms Porro, the only resident Ambassador to the Holy See from the Pacific region, said it was a “great privilege” to have served in the Eternal City and address a number of issues, from combatting climate change, to promoting women’s empowerment and equality. She also recalled leading a variety of initiatives throughout 2023 to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties between Australia and the Holy See. The Ambassador explained that these projects expanded “across a vast array of activities: from education to healthcare to culture and sport”.

Ms Porro noted that “partnership and collaboration is not something we should take for granted”, and she emphasised that “dialogue and understanding need to be cultivated”.

Another important moment the Ambassador underscored was the meeting between Aboriginal elder, Dr Miriam Rose Ungunmerr-Bauman, and Pope Francis. “We sought to amplify First Nations voices as a key expression of Australia’s foreign policy”, she pointed out. Australia, she explained, is a country that “draws strength from its multiculturalism”, and she observed that every person present at the event is connected “to the multifaceted life of the Holy See”, a place rich in diversity.

Following Ms Porro’s speech, Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, H.E. Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, who was Apostolic Nuncio to Australia from December 2012 to November 2014, expressed his gratitude for the Ambassador’s service. Even if moments like this are “bittersweet”, the Archbishop said, they are also opportunities “to recall the hard work and fond memories” of the time spent together. “Australia holds a special place in my heart”, he said, recalling his stay in the country. The Archbishop shared that he was impressed by the “friendly and down-to-earth approach of Aussies”. Australians, he said, “seem to have an innate desire and capacity to get along with everyone”, an attitude, he affirmed, that is so important today. “Imagine how the world might be a different place”, he said, “if each person saw in the other [...] a friend rather than an enemy”.

Australia and the Holy See, observed the Archbishop, have collaborated and worked to promote the “common good” and to uphold the “dignity of all”, a mission which Ambassador Chiara Porro tirelessly carried out throughout her years of service.

Anna Morghen