Carlo Maria Viganò

Carlo Maria Viganò JUD (16 January 1941 - ) is, since 19 October 2011, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States. He previously served as Secretary-General of the Governatorate of Vatican City State, from 16 July 2009 to 3 September 2011.^[1]

Early life

Viganò was ordained a priest on 24 March 1968. He earned a doctorate in utroque iure (both canon and civil law). He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1973, and worked at the papal diplomatic mission in Iraq and Great Britain and then, from 1978 to 1989, the Secretariat of State. He was named Special Envoy and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on 4 April 1989.

In addition to his native Italian, he also speaks French, Spanish, and English.

Nuncio

On 3 April 1992, he was appointed Titular Archbishop of Ulpiana and Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria by Pope John Paul II, who, with Cardinals Franciszek Macharski and Angelo Sodano serving as co-consecrators, gave him episcopal ordination on 26 April of that year. While he was Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria Pope John Paul II visited the country in 1997. At the close of his mission to Nigeria, he was assigned to functions within the Secretariat of State (Holy See), until he became Secretary General of the Governatorate on 16 July 2009.^[2]

Intervention at Interpol General Assembly

As Secretary General of the Governatorate, he spoke at the General Assembly of Interpol in November 2010, saying that "the issue which needs to be faced is one closely linked to the process of globalisation which is now affecting every aspect of the life of nations, peoples and individuals, and is accompanied by political and economic changes which are often uncontrolled and even uncontrollable. This in fact is what touches most closely the lives of nations and individual citizens. While it is true that globalisation offers opportunities for development and enrichment, it is also true that it can cause increased poverty and hunger, which in turn can spark chain reactions often leading to widely disparate forms of violence. Nor can we underestimate the fact that the fruits of technological and scientific progress can, for all their enormous benefits to humanity, be used in a way that clearly violates the order of creation, even to the point of denying the sacredness of life and stripping the human person and the family of their natural identity". He went on to say "The Holy See has always recalled this urgent need, conscious of the fact that the desire for peace, the pursuit of justice, respect for the dignity of the person, humanitarian cooperation and assistance are expressions of the just aspirations of the human spirit and the ideals which ought to undergird international relations. The Holy See has done so vigorously, even in recent days, as for example by intervening in the current debate on disarmament at the United Nations and urging all parties to reach agreement on definitive and complete disarmament".^[3]

Apostolic Nuncio to the United States

On 13 August 2011 the Secretary of State informed him that it was Pope Benedict XVI wish to appoint him Nuncio to Washington,^[4] an appointment published on 19 October 2011.^[5] Vigano thus became the 14th papal representative to the United States since the erection of such a post in 1893, and the fifth to serve as a diplomatic representative accredited to the government since bilateral diplomatic relations were established in 1984.

Vigano said that being Apostolic Nuncio to the United States is an "important, vast and delicate" task; he was grateful to Pope Benedict XVI for entrusting him with the mission and he felt called to renew his "trust in the Lord, who asks me to set out again". Being an Apostolic Nuncio, he said, is "a call to know this people, this country and come to love them".^[6] Archbishop Vigano chose the 19 October as date of announcement of his appointment as it is the feast of North American Martyrs.

References

1. ^ http://212.77.1.245/news_services/bulletin/news/24171.php?index=24171&lang=en#NOMINA%20DEL%20SEGRETARIO%20GENERALE%20DEL%20GOVERNATORATO%20DELLO%20STATO%20DELLA%20CITT%C0%20DEL%20VATICANO Vatican News Bulletin
2. ^ Catholic Hierarchy
3. ^ Intevernto del Segretario Generale del Governatorato dello Stato della Città del Vaticano alla 79a Assemblea Generale dell'Interpol (Doha, Qatar)
4. ^ New nuncio is no stranger to politics
5. ^ NOMINA DEL NUNZIO APOSTOLICO NEGLI STATI UNITI D’AMERICA
6. ^ Pope names Archbishop Vigano new nuncio to the U.S