Bishop from Iraq new papal nuncio

Pope Benedict XVI has named Monsignor Fernando Filoni as the new papal nuncio (Vatican ambassador) to Manila to replace Archbishop Antonio Franco, who has been reassigned to Israel and Cyprus.

The Catholic Church’s National Office for Mass Media said the 59-year-old Filoni, an Italian, has also been serving as papal nuncio to Baghdad, Iraq and Amman, Jordan as part of the Vatican’s diplomatic corps since January 2001.

Born in Manduria, Italy on April 15, 1946, Filoni has been a priest for almost 36 years now and a bishop for five years.

He was ordained as priest on July 3, 1970.

Filoni was the only Western ambassador to remain in Iraq following the US-led invasion of March 2003, which the Vatican had earlier opposed.

Franco is set to leave this week for Israel and Cyprus.

Last Friday, he was honored by local bishops in a thanksgiving Mass at the Manila Cathedral officiated by Archbishop of Manila Cardinal-elect Gaudencio Rosales. - Edu Punay