Vatican City, Dec 18, 2010 / 16:43 pm
Pope Benedict XVI has chosen Italian Archbishop Antonio Mennini as the new apostolic nuncio to Great Britain.
Archbishop Mennini will take the place of Spanish Archbishop Faustino Sainz Muñoz as apostolic nuncio to Scotland, England and Wales. The announcement of his appointment came at noon in Rome on Dec. 18.
The 63-year old archbishop has been working as papal delegate, or apostolic nuncio, to Russia and Uzbekistan since 2003. He previously served as nuncio to Bulgaria and also worked Turkey and Uganda after entering the diplomatic corps in 1981.
Scottish Cardinal Keith O'Brien "warmly welcomed" the appointment in a Dec. 18 statement from Edinburgh.