New papal nuncio arrives tomorrow
NEWLY appointed Apostolic Nuncio
Archbishop Fernando Filoni will arrive in Manila tomorrow, Monsignor Jain Mendez, charge d’affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature said yesterday.
Born in Italy on April 16, 1946, Filoni was ordained a priest at 24 and bishop at 54.
He holds a doctorate in Philosophy and Canon Law and is fluent in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.
He joined the Diplomatic Services of the Holy See at 36. He served in the Apostolic Nunciatures of Sri Lanka (1982-1983), Iran (1983-1985), Brazil (1989-1992) and at the Secretariat of State (1985-1989).
He worked at the Apostolic Nunciature on Taft avenue from 1992 until 2001.
"His ten years of experience in this country will have made him intimately conversant both with the agonizing problems and the hopes and dreams of the Filipinos," Mendez said.
Filoni replaced Archbishop Antonio Franco, 69, who was transferred by Pope Benedict XVI as apostolic nuncio to Israel and Cyprus last January after serving six years in Manila. – Czeriza Valencia