c. 1997 Religion News Service

WASHINGTON _ President Clinton has announced his intention to nominate former Louisiana congresswoman Lindy Boggs to be the new U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, replacing Raymond Flynn, who announced his resignation Monday (Sept. 15).

Boggs, 81, who retired from the House in January 1991 after nine terms, was formally nominated by Clinton on Friday (Sept. 12) to be the first U.S. woman to hold the ambassador’s position at the Holy See. The formal announcement came nearly five months after administration officials revealed she was the president’s choice to replace the sometimes controversial Flynn, who wants to return to his home state of Massachusetts and run for governor.

“No one should read anything in the time delay,” said one White House official. “These things just take time. The president feels she will make an excellent ambassador.”

Although the nomination requires Senate confirmation, Boggs, a revered figure both as a congresswoman and a congressional wife, should have no difficultly winning confirmation.

Any opposition that is voiced is likely to come from church-state separationists who object to diplomatic ties with the Vatican on the grounds that it is a church and only a pro-forma government and not to Boggs herself.

The Vatican post _ as liaison between Washington and the Holy See _ has assumed broader political dimensions as Pope John Paul II took an activist role in world affairs.

U.S. presidents have had personal representatives at the Vatican since President Franklin Roosevelt’s administration in the 1930s. Under President Ronald Reagan, Congress passed legislation establishing formal diplomatic ties with the Holy See, allowing the appointment of an official U.S. ambassador.

“I’m honored that President Clinton has announced his intent to nominate me to be our ambassador to the Holy See,” Boggs said. “I look forward to the confirmation process in the United States Senate and to the opportunity to serve our nation in this new capacity.”

Boggs assumed her House seat in a 1973 special election following the death of her husband, House Majority Leader Hale Boggs, whose plane disappeared over Alaska the year before.

Sen. John Breaux, D-La., predicting an easy path through confirmation for his long-time congressional colleague, said she was “the very best choice President Clinton could make.”

As with any top diplomatic posting, the ambassador to the Holy See spends a lot of time carrying out ceremonial and social duties _ including throwing parties.

But the ambassadorship is also considered important as a listening post because the Vatican maintains close diplomatic relations with many countries with which the U.S. doesn’t have close ties. A Roman Catholic _ like every previous envoy to the Vatican _ Boggs has close ties to church leaders both in the United States and abroad.

“Mrs. Boggs is a well informed and articulate person, known for her generosity of spirit and deeply committed to the services of others, especially those most in need,” said Bishop Anthony M. Pilla, president of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. “She is a distinguished choice. Our prayers and well wishes will be with her as she begins her new assignment.”

(BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM)

The Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, former president of Notre Dame University and a long-time friend of the veteran Democratic lawmaker, said she will be “a sensitive communicator” back and forth between the Clinton administration and the Vatican, particularly on human rights issues that the church is promoting.

“She will bring great dignity and intelligence to the position,” he said. “And she knows how to throw a party and make people feel welcome. That she does very easily and naturally.”

Since leaving Congress, Boggs has been working on her memoirs, and remained active in a host of volunteer projects.

As a congresswoman, she helped push through legislation ranging from credit access and government service pay equity for women, to legislation advancing scientific research and technology development. The Lindy Claiborne Boggs Center for Energy and Biotechnology was dedicated at Tulane University in 1988.

She also was a member of the Host Committee for Pope John Paul II’s official visit to New Orleans. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from Sophie Newcomb College at Tulane University, and now holds 20 separate honorary degrees from colleges throughout the United States.

(END OPTIONAL TRIM)

Flynn, whose resignation has long been anticipated, served as mayor of Boston from 1983 to 1993, and has indicated he misses the political arena where his hard-charging style is more acceptable than it has sometimes been in diplomatic circles.

He was twice reprimanded by the State Department for speaking out on issues in violation of the diplomatic community’s tight control over an ambassador’s personal feeling and he had a number of run-ins with Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.”It has been a great honor to serve the people of the United States and a privilege to come to know, respect and deeply admire the Holy Father, John Paul II,”Flynn said.”I tried to the best of my ability to serve the president while being loyal to my country, faithful to my God and true to myself,”he said.

MJP END ALPERT