Kagefumi Ueno had a private audience with the Pope on Thursday. The Holy Father bid him farewell and assured him of his prayers.
A statement from the Japanese embassy emphasized some of the highlights of Ueno’s four years of service, including visits to Japan by Vatican officials; the beatification of 188 martyrs in Nagasaki in 2008; the prime minister’s visit to the Pope in 2009; and a series of policy dialogues that took place between the officials of the two governments.
The ambassador also noted the opportunities he had to give a number of lectures on Japan and the country’s relations with the Vatican.
Ueno’s successor, Hidekazu Yamaguchi, will arrive in Rome at the end of this month.
