After a vacancy of nearly one year, the U.S. Senate approved the former head of Catholic Relief Services, Ken Hackett, to serve as the country’s new Ambassador to the Holy See.

“We are overjoyed that the country will be represented by a man who through his decades of service has demonstrated his commitment to the dignity and sanctity of life and fighting global poverty,” said Dr. Carolyn Woo, who succeeded Hackett as president and CEO of the U.S. bishops’ relief organization.

Woo added in her Aug. 2 statement that the charity looks “forward to working with the new ambassador as he engages the Vatican and Pope Francis towards the common goal of advancing peace and justice in the world.”