New Apostolic Nuncio for Australia

The Holy See has announced that Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto is to be the new Apostolic Nuncio to Australia.

Archbishop Lazzarotto was born in Carpane, Vicenza (Italy) in 1942 and was ordained a priest on April 1, 1967.

He has a Doctorate in Canon Law and completed post-graduate studies in International Diplomacy at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, Rome. Archbishop Lazzarotto entered the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See in 1971.

He served the Holy See in its diplomatic missions in Zambia and Malawi; in Belgium, European Community, Luxembourg; Cuba; the Apostolic Delegation of the Holy See in Jerusalem, in Palestine and Cyprus; and in the Secretariat of State, Vatican City, at the Section for Relations with States.

In 1994, Archbishop Lazzarotto was appointed Titular Archbishop of Numana and Apostolic Nuncio to Iraq and to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Since November 2000, he has served as Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland.

Archbishop Lazzarotto speaks Italian, English, French and Spanish.

The date of his arrival in Australia is yet to be confirmed. It is expected to be within the first months of 2008.

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President, Archbishop Philip Wilson warmly welcomed the appointment.

“On behalf of the Bishops and clergy and people of Australia, I welcome Archbishop Lazzarotto’s appointment,” he said.

“I look forward to greeting him personally upon his arrival and pray that his time in Australia will be happy and fruitful.”

An Apostolic Nuncio serves as both the ambassador of the Holy See in the host nation and as representative of the Holy Father to the Church in that same nation.

The post of Apostolic Nuncio to Australia has been vacant since the death of Archbishop Ambrose De Paoli in October this year.