One of the Pope's closest Vatican collaborators and friends has written to Malcolm Turnbull asking him to extend the term of Australia's ambassador to the Holy See, John McCarthy. 
Argentinian Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, chancellor of the Pontifical Academies for Science and Social Sciences, appealed to Mr Turnbull for "a singular favour by Australia, which would be beneficial in -advancing the Pope's objectives", especially on climate change and anti-slavery activities.
Mr McCarthy, formerly a -Sydney QC, pro-chancellor of Sydney University and a long-time ALP member, was appointed by former Labor foreign minister Bob Carr in late 2012. He is due to leave Rome at the end of this month. Bishop Sorondo said 2016 was "looming as a critical year" and "Australia's leadership position internationally â€¦ would be enhanced by your ambassador's continued work with us in Rome".
Mr McCarthy has been heavily involved in preparing a major economic conference to be led by Vatican finance chief Cardinal George Pell and International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde later this month.
The Prime Minister's office declined to comment on Archbishop -Sorondo's letter. Mr McCarthy has lifted Australia's profile in Rome. A former member of the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust, he also established the Vatican cricket team that will compete against Britain's Royal Household team later this year. Last year, it defeated the Archbishop of Canterbury's XI.
"Trade not aid" will be the theme of the Vatican conference, organised by the Melbourne-based Global Foundation.
It will focus on globalisation, growth and business ethics as the means for overcoming poverty.
The two-day roundtable, which will be opened by a keynote address from Cardinal Pell on   January 17, will draw inter-national civic, business, religious and political leaders who are expected to meet the Pope.
Global Foundation secretary-general Steve Howard said the Vatican and other churches had an important role in encouraging ethical business behaviour and investment to boost economic growth and job opportunities.
"In parts of Africa, that's a very hands-on role," he said. "Large mining companies are working with local churches in the establishment of projects, bypassing incompetent governments."International aid, however generous, could not alleviate poverty as effectively as trade and development, which had been responsible for helping billions of Indians, Chinese and others lift themselves out of poverty over recent decades.