This morning, the Holy Father Francis received in audience HE René Juan Mujica Cantelar, Ambassador of Cuba to the Holy See, on the occasion of the presentation of his credential letters.

Here are the essential biographical notes of the new Ambassador:

He was born on November 24, 1948.

He is married and has three children.

He holds a degree in History from the University of Havana and has followed several postgraduate courses in Foreign Policy and International Relations.

He has held the following positions: Officer at the Department of International Relations and the Union of Young Communists (1967-1969); Expert at the Directorate for International Organizations and Conferences of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) (1969-1970); Diplomatic Attaché in the Permanent Mission to the United Nations (1970-1973); Expert at the North American Directorate of the MFA (1973-1977); Second Secretary at the Cuban Interests Section in the United States (1977-1979); First Secretary to the Cuban Interests Section in the United States (1979-1982); Advisor to the Cuban Interests Section in the United States (1982-1986); Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of the Western Hemisphere, on relations with the United States (1987-1990); Minister Counselor in the Permanent Mission to the United Nations (1990-1993); Consultant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on matters of Multilateral and Relations with the United States (1993-1996); Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the European Union (1996-2002); Observer to the Committee of Ambassadors of the Africa Caribbean and Pacific Group (1998-2000); Member of the Committee of Ambassadors of the Africa Caribbean and Pacific Group (2000-2002); Ambassador, Deputy Director for Europe of the MFA (2002-2005); Ambassador, Chargé d’affaires to France (2004); Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (2005-2010); Ambassador, Coordinator of the Analysis of the US Directorate of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (2010-2013); Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany (2013-2017); Ambassador, Foreign Policy Specialist, United States Directorate General, MAE (2017-2020).