Pope Francis on October 6, 2018, received Michael Koch, ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Holy See, on the occasion of the presentation of his Credential Letters.
The following is a brief biography of the new ambassador:
Michael Koch, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Holy See
H.E. Mr. Michael Koch was born on 30 September 1955 in Kansas City, United States of America.
He is married and has 3 children.
He graduated in law (1981) and followed a training course at the Diplomatic Institute (1987). He then obtained a Ph.D. (1990).
He has held the following positions: officer at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1987-1988); officer at the Consulate General in San Francisco (1988-1991); official at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1990-1995); permanent representative at the Embassy of Yangon in Burma (1995-1998); head of Division at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1998-1999); head of a working unit at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1999-2001); minister of the Embassy in New Dehli (2001-2004); head of Division at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2004-2008); ambassador to Pakistan (2008-2012); special agent for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2012-2015); and director general at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (since 2015).
