教皇フランシスコが15日、バチカン国務省の対外関係部門担当次官に、同省職員のDr.フランチェスカ・ディ・ジョバンニ女史を任命した。
女史は1953年、イタリア・パレルモ生まれ。法学博士で、バチカン国務省に27年間勤務している。公証人としての実務を経験した後、International Centre of the Work of Mary（フォコラーレ運動）で法律分野の仕事をし、1993年に国務省に入り、対外関係部門に勤務し、多国間問題、特に移民・難民、国際人道法、コミュニケーション、国際私法、女性の地位、知的財産権、観光などを担当してきた。
女史の次官任命で、国務省の対外関係部門を担当する次官は2人になる。現在の対外関係部門のミロスロー・ワコウスキ次官は、今回の人事により、主として二国間外交を担当することになる。
Vatican News and L’Osservatore Romano のiDr.ジョバンニとの一問一答は以下の通り。（以下英文）
Q:Were you surprised by the appointment as under-secretary?
A:Yes, absolutely! For several years now we have been thinking about the need for an under-secretary for the multilateral sector: a delicate and demanding sector that needs special attention, because it has its own procedures, in some ways different from those of the bilateral sphere. But I sincerely never would have thought the Holy Father would have entrusted this role to me.It is a new role and I will try to do my best to live up to the Holy Father’s trust, but I hope not to do it alone: I would like to count on the harmony that has characterized our working group so far.
Q:What exactly is the “multilateral sector”?
A:Simply speaking, you can say that it deals with relations between inter-governmental organisations at the international level and includes the network of multilateral treaties, which are important because they embody the political will of States with regard to the various issues concerning the international common good: this includes development, the environment, the protection of victims of conflicts, the situation of women, and so on.
Q:What does your work consist of?
A:I will continue to deal with what I have been following up to now in the Section for Relations with States, although in this new role, I shall be responsible for coordinating the work in this area.
Q:You are the first woman to hold a position at this level in the Secretariat of State…
A:Yes, actually, it’s the first time a woman has had a managerial position in the Secretariat of State. The Holy Father has made an unprecedented decision, certainly, which, beyond myself personally, represents an indication of an attention towards women. But the responsibility is connected to the job, rather than to the fact of being a woman.
Q:In your opinion, what can the specific contribution be of a woman in this field?
A:I cannot fail to recall the words of the Holy Father in his homily on 1 January, in which he presented — we could say — a “tribute” to the role of women, saying that “women are givers and mediators of peace and should be fully included in decision-making processes. Because when women can share their gifts, the world finds itself more united, more peaceful”.
I would like to be able to contribute to the realization of the Holy Father’s vision, with my other colleagues who work in this area of the Secretariat of State, but also with other women — and there are many of them — who are working to build fraternity in this international dimension too. It is important to emphasize the Pope’s attention to the multilateral sector, questioned today by some, but which has a fundamental function in the international community.
A woman may have certain aptitudes for finding commonalities, healing relationships with unity at heart. I hope that my being a woman might reflect itself positively in this task, even if they are gifts that I certainly find in my male colleagues as well.
Q:In his recent address to the Diplomatic Corps, the Pope spoke about the multilateral system, calling for its reform…
A:In the international community, the Holy See also has the mission of ensuring that the interdependence between people and nations be developed in a moral and ethical dimension, as well as in the other dimensions and various aspects that relations are acquiring in today’s world. One must never tire of encouraging dialogue at all levels, always seeking diplomatic solutions.
For example, in his recent speech to the Diplomatic Corps, the Pope recalled, among other things, the many positive results of the United Nations, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. We want to continue seeing the UN as a necessary means for achieving the common good, even if this does not exempt us from asking for changes or reforms where deemed necessary.
（翻訳「カトリック・あい」南條俊二）
