Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
February 11, 2013

The United States is grateful to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for his leadership of and ministry to the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics. He has been a man of action and principle, working to promote human rights and dignity in places around the globe where they are too often denied, and a voice of clarity and conviction about our obligations as stewards of a fragile planet. As I heard Pope Benedict say during the Mass he celebrated in Washington nearly five years ago, Americans remain a people of hope and America a land of freedom and opportunity. He believes, as we do, that the qualities that have made our nation strong can also help make the world freer and more just. We have been honored to work with the Holy See during the nearly eight years of his papacy and look forward to continued collaboration in areas of common interest to our nation and to the Catholic Church. We wish Pope Benedict great peace and health and we will keep him in our prayers.

Secretary Kerry’s First Week

About the Author: Richard Buangan serves as Director of Digital Engagement at the U.S. Department of State.

Today’s “Photo of the Week” is not just one, but several photos we selected highlighting Secretary Kerry’s first week at the State Department. Since the warm welcome he received from hundreds of colleagues when he walked through the doors of the State Department for the first time as Secretary of State, Mr. Kerry wasted no time getting to work, meeting his new colleagues, and getting acquainted with the Harry S Truman building. Pictures tell the story better than words as Secretary Kerry assumed his responsibilities as America’s top diplomat. more »

About the Author: Luke Forgerson serves as DipNote’s Managing Editor.

The audio technician conducts one last sound test, and my public affairs colleagues prepare to stream the event live on www.state.gov. The press officers escort the media to the Benjamin Franklin Room, where many State Department events take place. Everything is occurring according to a process, one of which we’ve carried out dozens and dozens of times. And, yet, the event that is about to occur is anything but routine. The Vice President of the United States is minutes away from ceremoniously swearing in the 68th U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry.

As we wait for the ceremony to begin, my coworker and I reflect on our time at the State Department. I remember arriving on my first day and reciting the oath of office every employee takes, a pledge similar to the one Secretary Kerry is about to make…more »

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, spend a quiet moment with their grandson Alexander in the Secretary’s outer office, before his ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Department in State in Washington, D.C., February 6, 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden swears in Secretary of State John Kerry, surrounded by his family, at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. on February 6, 2013. A text transcript can be found at http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2013/02/203859.htm

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry surprises children from the Afghan National Institute of Music at their performance at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., February 4, 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry delivers remarks upon his arrival to the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. on February 4, 2013. A text transcript can be found at http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2013/02/203717.htm

About the Author: John Kerry serves as the 68th Secretary of State of the United States.

A day of milestones — here at what I’m learning now to call “the Mothership,” they tell me this is the 5,000th blog entry on this page, and it’s the first of what I hope will be many opportunities to share thoughts and occasional observations on the challenges ahead.

It’s also another day of “firsts” — the first opportunity to walk through the front doors of the Harry S Truman Building as Secretary of State

In more ways than one, it’s a homecoming — and proof that the American author who said, “You can’t go home again,” wasn’t right about everything.

Last week, as I left the Senate, I said that institution was “in my soul,” and it always will be, but I’m very proud that in many ways the Foreign Service is “in my genes” — a personal connection passed on by my father, Richard.

His travels gave me and my siblings an up close-and-personal… more »

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivers remarks at the confirmation hearing for Senator John Kerry as the next Secretary of State before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington, D.C. on January 24, 2013. A text transcript can be found at http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2013/01/203237.htm