Barnett presents letters of credence to his holiness Pope Francis

Barnett presents letters of credence to his holiness Pope Francis
Ambassador Barnett presenting his letters of credence to his holiness Pope Francis

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On Thursday, December 13, His Excellency Basil W. Barnett, Non-Resident Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, presented his Letters of Credence to His Holiness Pope Francis, at the Apostolic Palace, Vatican State City.

Ambassador Barnett joined Ambassadors from Switzerland, Malta, Cabo Verde, Iceland, Turkmenistan, Grenada, The Gambia, Qatar and Estonia who also presented their Letters of Credence to His Holiness.

During the Ceremony, the Holy Father’s message was focused on reminding the Ambassadors of the tragedy of the First World War and encouraging them to use this opportunity in service of their nations to continue securing peace based on justice and charity, and promoting the means necessary to attaining it.

Further, the Holy Father reminded the Ambassadors that in 2018, the international community celebrated the seventieth anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human

Ambassador Barnett presenting a gift to his holiness Pope Francis.

Rights, which guides the efforts of global diplomacy to secure peace in our world and to promote the integral development of each individual and all peoples.

The Ambassador is a devout and active member of the Roman Catholic Church in The Bahamas and attends St Francis Xavier Cathedral, where he is a lector.

Ambassador Barnett currently serves as a member of the Audit Committee of the Archdiocesan Finance Committee and has previously served as the President of the Pastoral Council of the Cathedral and Vice Chairman of the Catholic Board of Education.

Ambassador Barnett is married to Mrs. Margot Barnett and they are the proud parents of Morgan and Basil Jr and they have one grandchild Basil III.

During the Ambassador’s visit to the Holy See, he met with His Eminence Pietro Parolin, Cardinal Secretary of State of the Holy See; His Eminence Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States; His Eminence Archbishop Edgar Peña, Substitute of the Secretariat of State; Monsignor Joseph Murphy, Head of Protocol of the Secretariat of State. The Ambassador also called upon H.E. George F. Poulides, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cyprus to the Holy See, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See.

Ambassador Barnett was accompanied by Mrs. Margot Barnett, spouse; Miss. Morgan Barnett, daughter; His Lordship Mr. Justice Michael Barnett QC, Brother; Mrs Ann Cover, Sister; Mrs. Andrea Rolle, Sister-in-law; Mr. Devereaux King, Seminarian; Mr. Rashad Mortimer, Seminarian; and Mr. Marché A.