Vatican City, May 10, 2011 / 08:18 am
Archbishop Fernando Filoni, the Vatican's deputy secretary of state will now lead the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
The 65-year-old Italian cleric has held his present job for the past four years. He will be replaced by the apostolic nuncio to Cuba, Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu.
Pope Benedict XVI appointed Archbishop Feloni to his present job back in June 2007. Prior to that he spent three decades as a Vatican diplomat in Sri Lanka, Iran, Brazil, the Philippines and later, to Iraq.
It was there in 2006 he was nearly killed after a car bomb exploded next to the papal nunciature.
Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu, the new deputy secretary of state, is 62 years old and originally from Pattada on the Italian island of Sardinia. He was ordained a priest in 1972.
The role of deputy secretary of state - or “sustituto” in Italian - is crucial to the running of any papacy. His role includes the posting of nuncios around the world, making curial appointments in Rome as well as advising and traveling with the Pope himself.
Since 1984, Archbishop Becciu has also been part of the Vatican’s diplomatic service which has taken him to nunciatures in Angola, New Zealand, Britain, France, the United States and presently Cuba.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
At Catholic News Agency, our team is committed to reporting the truth with courage, integrity, and fidelity to our faith. We provide news about the Church and the world, as seen through the teachings of the Catholic Church. When you subscribe to the CNA UPDATE, we'll send you a daily email with links to the news you need and, occasionally, breaking news.
As part of this free service you may receive occasional offers from us at EWTN News and EWTN. We won't rent or sell your information, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Click hereOur mission is the truth. Join us!
Your monthly donation will help our team continue reporting the truth, with fairness, integrity, and fidelity to Jesus Christ and his Church.
Donate to CNA