Senate confirms businessman as U.S. ambassador to Vatican

Published: 2005-10-10

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Francis Rooney, a businessman with ties in Oklahoma and Florida, was confirmed by the Senate Oct. 7 to be U.S. ambassador to the Holy See. In a voice vote, the Senate agreed to confirm Rooney's appointment along with the nominations of dozens of other people to posts ranging from assistant secretaries of various federal agencies to judges for the District of Columbia. Rooney is chief executive officer of Rooney Holdings, which includes insurance and construction companies. He also has been active in Oklahoma and Florida in charitable and community organizations including the Knights of Malta, an Oklahoma Catholic hospital's strategic planning committee, the American Red Cross and the United Way. The post of Vatican ambassador has been vacant since Jim Nicholson became secretary of Veterans Affairs in January.

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