Pope Benedict XVI appoints Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza as Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland

22 Feb 2008

PRESS RELEASE

22 February 2008

Pope Benedict XVI appoints Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza as Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland

The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has appointed today Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza as the Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland. Archbishop Leanza is the Titular Archbishop of Lilybaeum.

The date of arrival of Archbishop Leanza will be determined after he has attended to the customary diplomatic courtesies at the conclusion of his mission in Bulgaria.

Notes for Editors

• Curriculum Vitae for Archbishop Leanza:

His Excellency Archbishop Leanza, the newly appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, was born in Cesar (Messina), Italy, on 2 January 1943. He received his priestly ordination on 17 July 1966.

After being awarded a Doctorate in Canon Law, he entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1972.

Archbishop Leanza has served successively at the Pontifical Representations in Paraguay, Uganda, the United States of America, and in the Section for Relations with States at the Secretariat of State.

On 3 July 1990 he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Haiti and Titular Archbishop of Lilybaeum.

He was appointed Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Zambia and Malawi on 4 June 1991.

On 29 April 1999 he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio in Bosnia Herzegovina and subsequently Apostolic Nuncio to Slovenia and the Republic of Macedonia on 15 May 2002.

Archbishop Leanza has served as Apostolic Nuncio in Bulgaria since 22 February 2003.

Besides his native language, the newly appointed Apostolic Nuncio speaks English, French, Serbo-Croat and Spanish.

ENDS

Further information:
Martin Long, Director of Communications (086 172 7678)
Kathy Tynan, Communications Officer (086 817 5674)