VATICAN (SE) : On February 6, Pope Francs received diplomatic credentials from Wafaa Ashraf Moharram Bassim, as the new ambassador to the Holy See from the Arab Republic of Egypt.

The accepting of the 58-year-old ambassador brings to an end a three-year period of without diplomatic relations between the two entities.

Cairo withdrew its ambassador in 2010, Vatican Radio reported.

The new ambassador has served in Rome previously, as well as at the United Nations. She was also ambassador Bucharest for four years.

She holds degrees in political science and economics.