Bilirakis Statement Regarding Potential Closing of Vatican Embassy

Statement

Congressman Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL), member of the International Religious Freedom Caucus, released the following statement upon learning of the Obama Administration's proposal to close the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See's building and relocate it to the grounds of the U.S. Embassy to Italy:

"The U.S. Embassy to the Holy See is an important diplomatic mission between the United States and the Vatican, which represents more than 1 billion Catholics worldwide," said Bilirakis. "While diplomatic security is of the utmost importance, I urge the State Department to examine every effort to keep the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See in its own, distinct property."

Source