Sally Axworthy

Her Excellency Sally Axworthy MBE
British Ambassador to the Holy See
In office 19 September 2016 – July 2021
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Theresa May Boris Johnson
Preceded by	Nigel Baker
Succeeded by	Chris Trott
Personal details
Born	(1964-09-01) 1 September 1964 (age 60)
Nationality	British
Spouse	Michael Axworthy ​ ​ (m. 1996; died 2019)​
Children	4
Occupation	Diplomat

Sally Jane Axworthy, MBE (née Hinds, 1 September 1964) is a British diplomat who was formerly the British Ambassador to the Holy See.^[1][2][3]

Life

Axworthy is the widow of Michael Axworthy, whom she married in 1996 and who died in March 2019, and has four children.^[4] She graduated in with a degree in modern history from Oxford University, with a specialisation in economics and law.^{[citation needed]}

She joined the Foreign Office in 1986. In 1987, she was a Desk Officer covering Hungary and what was then Czechoslovakia. From 1988 until 1989, she spent a year learning Russian in preparation for her posting to Moscow in 1989 as a Third Secretary, Commercial. She remained in Moscow until 1991 when she was transferred to Kiev as a Second Secretary, Economic.^[5]

From 1993 to 1994, Axworthy returned to London as Head of the Political Section in the UN Directorate. After this, until 1996 she was seconded to the German Foreign Ministry returning to the FCO but remaining in Germany in Berlin as First Secretary. For two years from 1998 she was head of the Turkey, Cyprus & Malta Section before being posted to Government Office South West as assistant director.^[5]

From 2011 to 2015, she returned to London where she worked in the FCO on African affairs.^{[citation needed]}

On 19 September 2016, Axworthy presented her letter of credence to Pope Francis, beginning her mission to the Holy See.^[6]

She ended her mission in July 2021.^[7]

References

1. Pepinster, Catherine (16 February 2020). "Sally Axworthy, our woman at the Vatican: 'It is a very male-dominated place'". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
2. Millbank, Sebastian (31 May 2021). "Ambassador welcomes Vatican 'See change' on women". The Tablet.
3. Lamb, Christopher (29 July 2021). "Sally Axworthy - faith and diplomacy". The Tablet. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
4. "Axworthy, Dr Michael George Andrew". Who's Who. 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
5. Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Holy See
6. Le Lettere Credenziali dell’Ambasciatore di Gran Bretagna presso la Santa Sede, 19.09.2016
7. @SallyAxworthy (20 July 2021). "Last visit to the Secretariat of State this morning to say goodbye to Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican's Live…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

External links

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Nigel Baker	British Ambassador to the Holy See 2016–2021	Succeeded by Christopher Trott