Joe Donnelly, ambassador to the Holy See, returns to Michiana

 

MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- Former Indiana Senator and current Ambassador to the Holy See, Joe Donnelly, returned to the Michiana area on Thursday evening.

Donnelly spoke at the monthly neighborhood meeting of the Mishawaka City Council about his work in Rome.

“Hard work helping others do your job. Do it well, walk humbly, that's who we are. I try to be reflective of our community,” said Donnelly.

In an exclusive interview with ABC57, Donnelly says that White House officials and the Vatican are particularly concentrating resources on the war in Ukraine, speaking personally with Pope Francis on the churches’ role.

"And he looked and he said, 'Joe, I’m trying so hard. and I just can't crack this one. We're working on it.' And I was like, wow. You could see the weight of the world was on his shoulders. So, it was really moving,” said Donnelly.

When asked whether or not Donnelly would consider making a return to Indiana politics, he said that rules regarding his current position as a U.S. ambassador prohibit him from speaking about runs for public office.