It is with great sadness that the CEI shares the news of the passing of Ambassador Giovanni Caracciolo di Vietri - an Italian diplomat who served as CEI Secretary General from January 2013 to December 2018.
Secretary General Roberto Antonione said he was “deeply saddened”, describing Caracciolo di Vietri “not only as a memorable leader who made an invaluable contribution to the Organisation but especially a dear friend and mentor”.
SG Antonione and the CEI - Executive Secretariat wish to express their sincere condolences to his family and friends, and all who mourn the loss of this remarkable man.
Amb. Caracciolo di Vietri had recently published the book "Letters from Paris: France and Italy in the New Millennium." This marks the first volume of the essay series "Writings," a new editorial initiative by the Ugo La Malfa Foundation dedicated to national and international current affairs.
The book, featuring a preface by Giorgio La Malfa and an introduction by Roberto Antonione, compiles the letters signed by l'Abate Galiani, the pseudonym of Ambassador Caracciolo di Vietri.
In 2019, the Mayor of Trieste, Roberto Dipiazza, had conferred the Sigillo Trecentesco del Comune di Trieste on Ambassador Caracciolo di Vietri highlighting his remarkable and enviable Curriculum Vitae:
Amb. Caracciolo di Vietri had graduated in Law in 1970 at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, he also received a French education at the Lycée Châteaubriand in Rome, where he obtained the Baccalauréat “avec mention”. He entered the diplomatic service in 1971 and in 1976 he was First Secretary at the Embassy of Italy to Ethiopia.
From 1980 – 1985 he worked as Counsellor at the Embassy of Italy to the United States of America and from 1985 – 1992 as Deputy Diplomatic Adviser to the President of the Republic of Italy. In 1992 he was nominated Consul General in Paris and in 1996 Deputy Director General for Emigration and Social Affairs, MFA, Rome.
From 2000 – 2004 he served as Ambassador to Serbia and from 2004 – 2006 he was nominated Director General for European Countries and Regional Cooperation at the MFA in Rome.
From 2006 – 2009 he was Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, and from 2009 – 2012 he was Italian Ambassador to France.