The current French ambassador in Portugal was chosen to represent France at the Holy See. His appointment still needs to be approved by the apostolic palace.
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Emmanuel Macron, who does not like to decide, preferring to leave the range of options open as long as possible, has finally decided. Vacante since the 1 January, the sensitive and coveted position of Ambassador of France near the Holy See will be provided. According to our information, it is the current ambassador of France in Portugal, Florence Mangin that has been named. This is the second time a woman inherits from this post, the oldest of French diplomacy, after the appointment of Elisabeth Beton-Degue, in the spring of 2019.
63 years old, this diplomat – Graduate of ENA (Promotion Condorcet, that of Valérie Pécresse) – was previously Director for Continental Europe at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while being senior official for equality of rights. Before taking office in Villa Bonaparte, in Rome, Florence Mangin still has to accommodate the Holy See, says an Elysian source. A recent past proves that this may be more than just a formality.
Refused because of his homosexuality
In 2015, the Vatican had refused to approve the candidate appointed by François Hollande. For more than a year, Laurent Stefanini, former head of the protocol to the Elysée under the presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy then that of the socialist, had waited in vain the green light of the Holy See. The opposite silence by the apostolic palace is the pontifical way of formulating a refusal, whose state in question is supposed to draw the consequences by proposing another candidate.
But François Hollande had refused to yield, considering that the homosexuality of his candidate, put forward by actors not always well intentioned, can not be a reason for acceptable refusal. Villa Bonaparate was therefore remained without ambassador for more than a year before a new candidate finally accepted.