Obama nominates Catholic theologian as ambassador to Holy See

President Barack Obama has nominated a Catholic theology professor, Miguel Diaz, as the new US ambassador to the Holy See.

Diaz, 45, a Cuban-American, teaches at St John's University and the College of Saint Benedict in the midwestern state of Minnesota. He is also a board member of the Catholic Theological Society of America, and past president of the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States.

A co-editor of 'From the Heart of Our People: Explorations in Catholic Systematic Theology,' and author of 'On Being Human: US Hispanic and Rahnerian Perspectives, ' Diaz has a doctorate in theology from the University of Notre Dame, the Catholic institution in the state of Indiana where Obama spoke in mid-May.

Diaz was a member of the Obama campaign's Catholic advisory board. He was among 26 Catholics who signed a statement supporting the nomination of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, a Catholic whose support for abortion rights was criticized by conservative Catholics.

The nomination will require confirmation from the US Senate.