Nominee to be U.S. ambassador to Vatican addresses Senate committee

Published: 2005-09-21

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The nominee to be U.S. ambassador to the Vatican was introduced Sept. 19 to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that must vote to approve him for the post. Francis Rooney said one of his top priorities as ambassador would be to make sure the Vatican understands U.S. concerns about the church's overtures toward improving ecclesial relations with China. The committee will vote during a business meeting sometime in October on whether to confirm Rooney, according to the committee staff. Rooney, a businessman with ties in Oklahoma and Florida, was introduced to the committee by Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., who described him as committed to "spreading the good word about the United States to countries whose only dealings with us are largely on a corporate level." Martinez also said Rooney was "trying to get the Catholic Church more involved in the issue of immigration reform and get the church's help in improving the United States' image abroad."

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