County Down Outlook - Features - Barnmeen man Francis is 'Our man in the Vatican'

Features

Barnmeen man Francis is 'Our man in the Vatican'

Wednesday, 17 March 2010

Barnmeen man Francis is 'Our man in the Vatican' thumbnail

THE youngest son of the locally well known cattle farmer Daniel Campbell, from Barnmeen, is no ordinary son. As humble as were his beginnings, the youngest of four sons, Francis, now graces the corridors of power in the Vatican and Whitehall.
It's enlightening to learn then, that 39 year old Francis Campbell, who holds the prestigious title of British Ambassador to the Holy See, and is currently featured on the BBC T.V series 'Our Man in the Vatican,' sprouted these highly influential roots just a stones throw down the road from here on a farm in Barnmeen.
The BBC trilogy, which was the 'brain child' of Fermanagh man, Martin O'Brien, features Francis describing the responsibility of his role as Ambassador.
Calmly, he describes organisng high profile visits between British monarchs and the Pope and claims he can sometimes go six or seven weeks without a single day off.
Most recently Gordon Brown visited Pope Benedict, ahead of last years G8 summit. It was the fifth visit by a British Prime Minister in the last six years. In the previous 30 years, there had been just one such visit, a reflection of the growing importance of the Vatican in domestic British politics and international relations.
Before his term began in the Vatican, Francis held numerous roles within the Foreign Office as a policy advisor on European affairs and was formerly a Private Secretary to the British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Francis describes himself as a bridge between British culture and Vatican culture. Many would say an almost impossible divide to bridge. For many of us who were raised against the backdrop of The Troubles and the bitter sectarian divide that it created, its always refreshing to encounter people who defy cultural stereotyping.
HARRODS
He began his diplomatic journey to the top cashing-up tills in Harrods during their summer sales. Chuckling, Francis recalls landing his first summer job as a student in London at 16 years of age.
On his first day he was part of the team that had to reconcile £8 million of cash. Considering his previous experience to date had been gained from counting up the contents of his parish Trocaire boxes, it wasn't bad going.
However, as ironic as it might appear, Francis became the first Catholic to hold this position as emissary of the Court of St James to the Holy See, since the Reformation. Even Tony Blair, appeared to be beside himself at the irony during the first episode of the documentary recently aired on BBC One. He said: "How discriminatory is that. It's the most stupid thing I think I've heard, that Vatican policy demanded that a non Catholic be the Ambassador"
DRUMGREENAGH
Francis' humble beginnings in International Relations began when he was big enough to join his elder brothers at St Colman's Primary School on the Drumgreenagh Road, before becoming a border at St Michael's College in Omeath. Recollecting, his teacher Dolores McCarthy describes his organisational skills and ability to communicate were very much to the fore. Joking the principle added: "His oratory skills, although not always welcome, coupled with a sense of humour made for a very interesting pupil."
It was during this time that his father returned to the North West Territories of Canada where many South Down men travelled to find work in the steel mines during the 1970's and 80's. His mother Brigid (Nee Cosgrove) who was originally a Galway woman, stayed behind to look after the home.
However, in 1985, when Francis reached fourth year, the college closed its doors and he transferred to St Colman's College in Newry to finish his final exams.
On completing his A Level's he studied at Queen's University in Belfast and undertook an Honours Degree in Scholastic Philosophy and Political Science. Francis lived in the seminary on the Antrim Road during his student years and Francis recalls walking over three miles on his way to Queen's, but his walk was no ordinary walk.
He describes this stroll each morning with his fellow students as an education in itself, through the divided streets of Belfast. Carlisle Circus, on through the Nationalist Unity Flats, across Peter's Hill, onwards across the Unionist Shankill Road, and then back onto the Nationalist Falls Road, before making it to the relative safety of Great Victoria Street and upwards to University Road.
NO ORDINARY WALK
Every morning he was reminded of the political instability of the late 1980's and early 90's with the regular sight of white tape used to cordon off scenes were a sectarian murder had taken place earlier. Or the poignant reminder when the Europa Hotel and surrounding bars was reduced to rubble, the aftermath of a massive explosion. A thorough grounding for anyone embarking on a career in repairing diplomatic relations.
After his time spent in Belfast, Francis studied in a plethora of prestigious Universities all over the world, Dublin, Belgium, Leuven oustside Brussels and finally Pennsylvania to embark upon a doctorate in International Relations, having deferred his entry into the Foreign Office Fast Stream.
Within a relative short space of time, Francis found himself being part of the No 10 Policy Unit which devises policy and creates ten year strategies for front line services. In relation to how he dealt with the stalemate which exists within the realms of Parliament, Francis describes being all too aware of the challenges which face everyone there.
He said: "I found a tremendous willingness to lessen the bureaucratic layer which would allow power to focus on front line services. The now Foreign Secretary of State, David Milliband was my boss at the time."
FIRE FIGHTER
Francis looks back on his career so far and reveals his current role, by its very nature is subject to continuous change. He describes the job as doing a fair amount of fire fighting, dealing with the constant flow of problems that can arise within his position, an unenviable amount of stress you might agree.
However, for Francis his four year term in office has been extended due to the Pope's visit to Britain later this year, the Pope preferring the expertise of one of County Down's greatest exports, to a new kid on the 'Vatican' block.
Francis may be unsure which path he will choose next, but one thing is certain, many avenues lie open to him in senior Ambassadorships or even to revisit his calling within the priesthood. As he described several months back, "In my life there were a few corners I never saw coming, as a result I can never rule out anything."