(OurNationNews.com) -Joe Donnelly is retiring as the United States Ambassador for the Vatican and his last day will be July 8. Donnelly worked previously as a senator for the state of Indiana before he was confirmed as a U.S. ambassador in 2022 after President Joe Biden nominated him for the position. Donnelly did not provide a reason for his departure.
In a post on X, Donnelly said it has been an “honor” to serve in this position on behalf of the United States. In 2023, Donnelly said he would remain in the position through the end of 2024 amidst speculation that he was considering running for Senate or governor of Indiana. Following Donnelly’s announcement, there was conjecture that former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi could be interested in taking the ambassador position. A spokesperson for Pelosi posted on social media that this would not be happening.
When Donnelly took the ambassador role, he said that he and his family are proud members of the Catholic faith. He also said Catholicism is a critical role of his life and values. During his role in the position, Donnelly had dialogue with the Vatican regarding policy surrounding the wars involving Ukraine and Israel.
Donnelly also had meetings with Ukrainian families who wanted to escape from the war in Ukraine. Donnelly talked about a mother who had just given birth in a Ukrainian bomb shelter and had to seek refuge in Italy. He said the mother had to ride the bus for a month with a newborn baby to find a safe place to stay.
Donnelly was also focused on issues pertaining to religious freedom, especially in China. He referred to the Uyghur Muslims that are being held in concentration camps as part of religious persecution. He said freedom of religion is an important right that was core to his work as an ambassador. It is unknown who President Biden will nominate to replace Donnelly as the Vatican ambassador.
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