Controversial Vatican Envoy Wilson Quits
The State Department today announced the resignation of William A. Wilson, the U.S. ambassador to the Vatican who was chided by his superiors for making an unauthorized secret trip to Libya earlier this year.
State Department spokesman Charles E. Redman gave no reason for the resignation and declined to answer questions about whether the departure had anything to do with Wilson’s trip to Libya.
Wilson, 71, a personal friend of President Reagan and Secretary of State George P. Shultz, was appointed as the first U.S. ambassador to the Vatican when diplomatic relations with the Holy See were established in January, 1984.
Wilson had been serving as Reagan’s personal envoy to the Vatican.
His tenure turned controversial in late March, when the Administration confirmed that he had gone to Tripoli, without permission, to meet Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi. The visit took place after the United States had accused Kadafi of sponsoring the terrorists who attacked the Rome and Vienna airports Dec. 27 and while Americans were being told to stay out of Libya.
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