New Papal Nuncio arriving tomorrow

The new Apostolic Nuncio or Vatican ambassador is set to arrive tomorrow afternoon, the Catholic Church’s National Office of Mass Media (NOMM) said yesterday.

Fr. James Reuter, NOMM executive secretary, said Archbishop Fernando Filoni will be welcomed by the Office of the Apostolic Nunciature after he arrives at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 3:25 p.m. on board a Thai Airlines flight.

Reuter said it would be interesting to note that Filoni has already been assigned to the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila from 1992 to 2001.

"His almost 10 years of experience in the Philippines has made him intimately conversant both with the agonizing problems and with the hopes and dreams of the Filipinos," said Reuter in a statement.

Filoni, who turned 60 last month, was named to his new post last February by Pope Benedict XVI to replace Archbishop Antonio Franco.

Born in Italy on April 15, 1946, Filoni was ordained a priest at age 24 and appointed bishop at 54.

He specializes in philosophy and Canon Law.

The new Nuncio, who joined the Holy See’s diplomatic services

at age 36, is fluent in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.

He has been assigned to Sri Lanka, Iraq, Brazil, and had served at the Vatican State Secretariat. — Edu Punay