BBC foreign affairs correspondent David Willey has died at the age of 93

David Willey, who served as the BBC’s foreign affairs correspondent for more than half a century, has died aged 93.

He has reported from Algeria, Vietnam and China, but is best known for his time in Rome as the BBC’s Vatican Correspondent covering the pontificates of five Popes.

Considered one of the most experienced journalistic voices in the Vatican, Wiley wrote a book about Pope Francis and was awarded an OBE for services to broadcast journalism.

He was still doing well in his nineties – last year, after the death of Pope Francis; Willy reflects on how the Vatican changed during the late Pope’s tenure.

BBC journalist and presenter Mark Lowen wrote: “He was an incredible authority on the Vatican, having corresponded and traveled with five popes, and was very kind, giving me insight and encouragement as I embarked on Rome in 2019.”

Wiley began his career as an intern for the Reuters news agency and in 1957 covered the signing of the Treaty of Rome. The document that established the European Economic Community was the basis for what is now the European Union.

In the year On the 50th anniversary in 2007, he wrote, “I was there when the six founders of Europe, who were dressed in wedges, modeled after ancient Roman wars, presented their signatures.”

“Crambling into the room were members of parliament, city officials and even a red-robed Vatican cardinal.”

Willie then worked as a freelancer in Algeria before becoming the BBC’s East Africa correspondent in 1964.

He then covered Asia, the Vietnam War, and China after the Communist Revolution.

But David Wiley is best remembered for his decades of work in Rome.

He became an authority on the pontificate of five popes – one of his main actions was the 1981 assassination attempt on John Paul II.

Last year, Willy met the fifth Pope – the new Pope Leo.