The Swiss Foreign Minister, Ignazio Cassis, recently participated in the official opening ceremony of the new Swiss embassy to the Vatican as part of his three-day visit to Rome that started on Wednesday. The opening represents an important milestone in the consolidation of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and the Holy See. Switzerland’s first diplomatic representative to the Vatican was appointed only three decades ago.
Since 2014, Swiss diplomatic activities with the Vatican were conducted through the Swiss Ambassador in Slovenia. However, due to increased diplomatic engagements in recent years and a desire to enhance bilateral and international cooperation on key issues of Switzerland’s foreign policy, the Swiss government decided to establish a dedicated embassy to the Holy See.
The embassy will handle relations with Malta and San Marino as well and will serve as a crucial platform for Switzerland to engage with the Holy See on matters of mutual interest.
Cassis has held discussions with officials from the Holy See and the Italian government, including Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher. He has also scheduled meetings with his Italian counterpart, Antonio Tajani; and the economy and finance minister, Giancarlo Giorgetti, to discuss various topics, such as bilateral relations, Switzerland’s relationship with the European Union, its non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and financial ties between the two countries.
