Fahrettin Altun appointed Turkish ambassador to Vatican in diplomatic reshuffle

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan signed a presidential decision Saturday appointing Fahrettin Altun as Türkiye's ambassador to the Holy See, according to the Official Gazette. Altun, who most recently served as chair of the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Türkiye and previously headed the Presidency's Communications Directorate, will now represent Ankara at the Vatican.

Career Background

Altun's diplomatic appointment follows a distinguished career in public service where he played a key role in shaping Türkiye's communications strategy. His posting to the Holy See comes at a time when Türkiye continues to engage with the Vatican on matters of mutual interest including regional stability, interfaith dialogue, and humanitarian issues.

Other Diplomatic Appointments

The presidential decision also named Mustafa Kibaroglu as permanent representative to the United Nations Office in Vienna. Mustafa Turker Ari was appointed ambassador to Georgia, serving at the Turkish Embassy in Tbilisi. Baris Ceyhun Erciyes, currently deputy director general for the Balkans and Central Europe at the Foreign Ministry, was appointed ambassador to Albania based in Tirana. The appointments reflect Ankara's ongoing efforts to strengthen diplomatic representation across key international posts.