New Delhi: The Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of 1993 batch Sibi George will be the new ambassador of India to the Holy See, an announcement by the Ministry of External Affairs said here.

He will replace Smita Purushottam.

Mr George is also presently Ambassador of India to Switzerland. He will have his residence in Berne and is expected to take up the assignment shortly.

A native of  Kottayam in Kerala, George has also served as deputy chief of mission of Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia and Iran. He has also worked in Egypt, Qatar, Pakistan and USA. He is also a recipientof S.K. Singh Award for excellence in IFS.

The Holy See serves as the central point of reference for the Catholic Church. It is also referred to as the See of Rome and is the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, the episcopal see of the Pope and an independent sovereign entity.

(uniindia)