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Name: Sambi, Pietro
Current Position: Previous Ambassador
Archbishop Pietro Sambi became the apostolic nuncio (ambassador) of the Holy See to the United States on March 9, 2006, with concurrent accreditation as permanent observer to the Organization of American States. Sambi died July 27, 2011, following lung surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.
Sambi held a doctorate in sacred theology and canon law. He was incardinated in the Diocese of San Marino-Montefeltro, and ordained a priest in 1964.
Sambi began his service in the diplomatic corps in 1969 as an attaché in Cameroon, transferring to Jerusalem in 1971, Cuba in 1974, Algeria in 1978, Nicaragua in 1979, Belgium in 1981, and then India in 1984 with the rank of counselor.
He also served as apostolic pro-nuncio in Burundi (1985-1991), Indonesia (1991-1998), Israel and Cyprus, and apostolic delegate in Jerusalem and Palestine (1998-2005).
He spoke Italian, English, French and Spanish.