Francis Campbell
Encyclopedia
Francis Martin-Xavier Campbell (b. 20 April 1970, Newry
, County Down
, Northern Ireland
) was the UK's Ambassador
to the Holy See
from late 2005 to early 2011. He joined the British
Diplomatic Service
in 1997, aged 27.
, Campbell was born on a farm near the border and was the youngest of four boys. His mother, from Briarfield, County Galway
, stayed at home while his father, from Rathfriland, was away for long stretches at a time working as a miner in Canada. For 17 years his father would return home for just a few weeks once every year or 18 months.
Campbell was educated at St Colman's College, Newry
. After St Colman's he attended St Joseph's Seminary in Belfast, part of the philosophy faculty at Queens University Belfast and attended postgraduate studies at the Katholieke Universiteit, Leuven, where he considered the priesthood. He attended the University of Pennsylvania
on a Thouron Award
Fellowship.
He was a lector at Westminster Cathedral
, and, at one time, was an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.
and secondment to the European Commission
, as part of its Delegation to the United Nations
in New York
.
From 1999-2003 he worked at 10 Downing Street
, appointed first as Policy Adviser to the Prime Minister (1999–2001) and then Private Secretary
to the Prime Minister (2001–2003). From 2003-2005, he was First Secretary at the British Embassy in Rome
and, subsequently, on sabbatical, Senior Policy Director with Amnesty International
in London. He was Ambassador to the Holy See from 2005 to 2011.
by BBC Northern Ireland
called Our Man In The Vatican, focused on a year in the life of Ambassador Campbell. Contributors to the programme include Tony Blair
, the Prime Minister during Campbell's role as Private Secretary
.
Newry
Newry is a city in Northern Ireland. The River Clanrye, which runs through the city, formed the historic border between County Armagh and County Down. It is from Belfast and from Dublin. Newry had a population of 27,433 at the 2001 Census, while Newry and Mourne Council Area had a population...
, County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
) was the UK's Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
from late 2005 to early 2011. He joined the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Diplomatic Service
Diplomatic service
Diplomatic service is the body of diplomats and foreign policy officers maintained by the government of a country to communicate with the governments of other countries. Diplomatic personnel enjoy diplomatic immunity when they are accredited to other countries...
in 1997, aged 27.
Personal life
A native of RathfrilandRathfriland
Rathfriland is a village in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is a hilltop Plantation of Ulster settlement between the Mourne Mountains, Slieve Croob and Banbridge. It had a population of 2,079 people in the 2001 Census.-History:...
, Campbell was born on a farm near the border and was the youngest of four boys. His mother, from Briarfield, County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
, stayed at home while his father, from Rathfriland, was away for long stretches at a time working as a miner in Canada. For 17 years his father would return home for just a few weeks once every year or 18 months.
Campbell was educated at St Colman's College, Newry
St Colman's College, Newry
St Colman's College is a Roman Catholic school in Newry, Northern Ireland. Now named in honour of St. Colman, it was founded in 1823 as the Dromore Diocesan Seminary by a Father J.S. Keenan. The College stands on Violet Hill, the same 60 acre site it has occupied since 1829, adjacent to the...
. After St Colman's he attended St Joseph's Seminary in Belfast, part of the philosophy faculty at Queens University Belfast and attended postgraduate studies at the Katholieke Universiteit, Leuven, where he considered the priesthood. He attended the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
on a Thouron Award
Thouron Award
The Thouron Award was established in 1960 by Sir John R.H. Thouron, K.B.E., and the late Esther du Pont Thouron.It was created to strengthen the "special relationship" between the United States and the United Kingdom through educational exchange between British universities and the University of...
Fellowship.
He was a lector at Westminster Cathedral
Westminster Cathedral
Westminster Cathedral in London is the mother church of the Catholic community in England and Wales and the Metropolitan Church and Cathedral of the Archbishop of Westminster...
, and, at one time, was an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.
Career
Campbell's early diplomatic career focused on Europe with postings to the European Enlargement Unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth OfficeForeign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
and secondment to the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
, as part of its Delegation to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
From 1999-2003 he worked at 10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street, colloquially known in the United Kingdom as "Number 10", is the headquarters of Her Majesty's Government and the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury, who is now always the Prime Minister....
, appointed first as Policy Adviser to the Prime Minister (1999–2001) and then Private Secretary
Private Secretary
In the United Kingdom government, a Private Secretary is a civil servant in a Department or Ministry, responsible to the Secretary of State or Minister...
to the Prime Minister (2001–2003). From 2003-2005, he was First Secretary at the British Embassy in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and, subsequently, on sabbatical, Senior Policy Director with Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
in London. He was Ambassador to the Holy See from 2005 to 2011.
Documentary
Airing in February and March 2010, a 3-part documentaryDocumentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
by BBC Northern Ireland
BBC Northern Ireland
BBC Northern Ireland is the main public service broadcaster in Northern Ireland.The organisation is one of the three national regions of the BBC, together with BBC Scotland and BBC Wales. Based at Broadcasting House, Belfast, it provides television, radio, online and interactive television content...
called Our Man In The Vatican, focused on a year in the life of Ambassador Campbell. Contributors to the programme include Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
, the Prime Minister during Campbell's role as Private Secretary
Private Secretary
In the United Kingdom government, a Private Secretary is a civil servant in a Department or Ministry, responsible to the Secretary of State or Minister...
.