Alfonso Rivero Monsalve

Alfonso Rivero Monsalve was born in Lambayeque in 1942. He studied humanities and law at the Pontifical Catholic University and San Marcos, then graduated in international relations from Peru’s Diplomatic Academy. Entering the diplomatic service in 1967, he eventually headed embassies in India, Bolivia, Chile, and Brazil. Between 1988 and 1990 he served as vice-minister and secretary-general of foreign affairs. ¹

His Washington ambassadorship ran from 1999 to 2001. In November 2000 he attended the opening of an exhibition featuring six Peruvian women artists, including Sandra Gamarra and Silvia Westphalen. That month he also received, on behalf of Peru, a colonial wooden sculpture of the Virgin recovered by United States Customs. ^{1, 2}

After Washington, he advised Peru’s UN representation and preparations for the 2008 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. He presented credentials as ambassador to the Holy See to Benedict XVI on 16 March 2007. His later public activity included a 2023 address to the Chilean Council for International Relations on Peru’s political instability, economic development, and bilateral cooperation. ^{1, 3}