Wikström (FP): Blocking of French gay ambassador by Vatican is unacceptable

Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament have today expressed deep regret at the attitude of the Vatican, which after four months, still continues to refuse to respond to the appointment of the new openly gay French ambassador nominee, the diplomat Laurent Stefanini. The ALDE Group calls on the Pope to approve the appointment of Mr Stefanini and ensure that such decisions are strictly competency based.

Commenting on the silence of the Vatican, Cecilia Wikström (FP, Sweden), ALDE coordinator of the LIBE committee, said: “I would like to think this is a misunderstanding and that the failure of the Vatican to respond to the nomination of the French ambassador is because of heavy bureaucratic or administrative burdens and not because of the ambassador’s sexual orientation. Would that be the case, the Vatican would be committing an unprecedented breach of Fundamental Rights. The EU will never cease fighting discrimination, irrespective of what the ground it is based on. And I would like to quote the Pope himself on this issue: `Who am I to judge another human being?’ “