Fri 8 Apr 2016 In: International News View at Wayback View at NDHA
France has abandoned its plan to have a diplomat in the Vatican City after a delay in confirmation was attributed to the proposed ambassador’s sexuality. French President François Hollande put forward his head of protocol, Laurent Stefanini for the role in 2015. The practicing Catholic is supported by the Archbishop of Paris however the Vatican On Wednesday Stefanini was named as ambassador to UNESCO, the Paris-based UN cultural agency. French Catholic newspaper La Croix cited an unnamed source as saying France’s proposal of a gay ambassador was considered as a “provocation” by the Vatican. Stefanini was second in command at the French Embassy to the Vatican from 2001 to 2005 and it was hoped he would succeed Ambassador Bruno Joubert who left the Vatican in February 2015 leaving the position vacant.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 8th April 2016 - 3:52pm