Published: December 18, 2025
VATICAN CITY — Liberia’s Ambassador to the Court of St. James, Genevieve A. Kennedy, has officially presented her Letters of Credence to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, marking a renewed chapter in diplomatic relations between Liberia and the Holy See.
Ambassador Kennedy, who is accredited to the United Kingdom with concurrent responsibilities to the Holy See, the Republic of Ireland, and Malta, took part in an elaborate ceremony Tuesday at the Third Loggia of the Apostolic Palace. She was among 14 new ambassadors from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East received by the Pontiff.
In his remarks, Pope Leo XIV said the Holy See “will not be a silent bystander” in the face of global inequality, conflict, and rising social fractures. He stressed that peace is “not merely the absence of conflict but an active and demanding gift,” rooted in humility and a rejection of vindictiveness. The Holy Father cautioned diplomats against the growing global trend of using “words as weapons,” insisting that true stability requires moral courage and responsibility.
Reflecting on the human toll of global instability, the Pope said the poor and marginalized suffer most. Echoing Pope Francis, he reminded the assembled envoys that “the measure of a society’s greatness is found in how it treats those most in need.”
Presenting her Letters, Ambassador Kennedy conveyed President Joseph N. Boakai’s warm greetings and best wishes to the Pontiff. She reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to deepening its longstanding relationship with the Holy See, describing the ties as both historic and mutually supportive.
Ambassador Kennedy stated that Liberia looks forward to strengthening cooperation in areas of shared interest, including peacebuilding, humanitarian outreach, and social development, as the country works to reinforce its democratic institutions and expand opportunities for its people.
The ceremony marks Ambassador Kennedy’s formal assumption of duties as Liberia’s envoy to the Vatican, expanding her diplomatic portfolio at a time of shifting geopolitical dynamics and heightened global concern for vulnerable populations.
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