Skip to main content

THE PAPAL NUNCIO AND HIS DUTIES






Edited by Fr Lawrence Ogundipe SDV 


The Holy Father  often appoints papal nuncios to represent him and the interests of the Catholic Church in various countries.  Today His Excellency, MOST REVD ANTONIO G. FILIPAZI, the PAPAL NUNCIO to NIGERIA is 11 Years in the Episcopal Ministry.  May God bless him 


WHO IS A PAPAL NUNCIO? 

A Papal nuncio is a papal ambassador, i.e. a permanent diplomatic representative of the Holy See to a state or an international organization. The papal nuncio is a permanent representative of the pope who is assigned with the task of safeguarding the interests of the Holy See in a particular country or region. 


According to the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, a papal nuncio is an ambassador equal to an ambassador from any other country. However in Catholic countries the papal nuncio may rank above other ambassadors in diplomatic protocol.


WHAT IS AN APOSTOLIC NUNCIATURE? 

An apostolic nunciature is a top-level diplomatic mission of the Holy See, equivalent to an embassy. 


WHAT ARE THE DUTIES OF A PAPAL NUNCIO? 

While at the Seminary of Saints Peter and Paul  Bodija  Ibadan  His Excellency  Filipazi  explained that the papal nuncio serves as the liaison between the Holy See and the Roman Catholic diocesan episcopate in the nation, region or organization in which he is placed. Thus, some of the duties include:


a. To inform the Apostolic See about the conditions in which the particular Churches find themselves, and matters which affect the life of the Church and the good of souls.


b. To foster close relations with the Bishops Conference, offering it every assistance. and matters which affect the life of the Church and the good of souls.


c. To work with the Bishops to foster appropriate exchanges between the Catholic Church and other Churches or ecclesial communities, and indeed with non-Christian religions. 


d. To promote and foster relationships between the Apostolic See and State authorities.


e. To address questions concerning relations between Church and State, drawing up concordats and other similar agreements, and giving effect to them. 


f. When the pope visits other countries, it is the papal nuncio who welcomes him and gives him the detailed information about the diplomatic and ecclesiastical developments in that country.


CONCLUSION 

The Holy See has diplomatic relations with various nations and organizations and so there is a need for representatives in order to oversee these relations. The views of the Church needs to be presented by the pope but because of the many commitments among other barriers; the pope cannot manage to represent himself in all the regions. That is the main reason as to why the papal nuncio position was established.

The Vocationist Nigeria Delegation celebrate you today.  We pray that our lady of Divine Vocations will continue to intercede for you 


Source: Catholic vocus group on Facebook 



Comments

  1. Fr Val SDV5 February 2022 at 07:42

    Thanks Very Rev Fr L. O. Ogundipe, SDV for the insight.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Unknown5 February 2022 at 08:39

    Thank you Fr.for this enlightenment.May God bless your vocation.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Unknown5 February 2022 at 13:30

    Thanks Fr Delegate, so nice. Weldone.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why Catholics should not eat meat during Christmas Eve

  One of the traditional acts of Christmas is to abstain from meat on Christmas Eve, 24th December.  I could still remember the temptation from the aroma of the fried chicken from my Mama Lucy's kitchen when I was 7 years old. I asked her for a bite and she shouted “Agbedo" meaning never!!! “Why grandma?” I asked, she took me by hands to the Church manger and showed me the animals in the crib: “Yes, Olu, we cannot eat meat on Christmas Eve because the animals were the ones who kept Jesus company at his birth, so we must respect them today''. “Waoo!” I exclaimed, “So that's why I cannot eat meat today...” I held unto this tradition until I entered Seminary only for us to eat plenty meat on the Christmas Eve. Then I asked: “Why are we not respecting the animals today?” And my brothers laughed at my ignorance.  Why then should grandma stop me from eating meat? According to Wikipedia, the Catholic Church historically observes the disciplines of fasting and abstinence a...
4 comments
Read more

About Society of Divine Vocations in Nigeria

The Society of Divine Vocations, also known as the Vocationist Congregation, is a Religious Congregation of Priests, Brothers and Sisters founded by St. Justin Mary Russolillo (1891-1955) in Italy. The Vocationist Fathers and Brothers Congregation was first founded on October 18, 1920 while the Vocationist Sisters was founded on October 1, 1921. The Congregation has its motherhouse at Pianura in the district of Naples in Italy.  The Vocationist Congregation has its main charism as identifying and fostering vocations to priesthood and religious life, especially among the less privileged. The Vocationists work in Vocationaries (considered as their most characteristic work and most special and primary field of action), parishes, schools, and missions. The Society of Divine Vocation is a core religious institute of Pontifical Right. We live in communities and profess the three evangelical counsels of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. Vocation is our business. God has specially called us...
13 comments
Read more

Our lady of Africa by Very Rev Fr Lawrence Avro CDA

_ Today we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Africa. History has it that through her intercession the French who came to North Africa to re-established themslves  early in the19th century were able to build a church through the Sodality of Our Lady in Lyon offered to the 1st bishop, Bishop Dupuch a bronze statue of the Immaculate Conception with the understanding that she would be the Protectress of both the Mohammedans & the natives. This bronze statue, very dark in colour, is known as Our Lady of Africa. Pilgrims began to come to venerate the image where the lame, the blind, & the crippled were miraculously healed, & sailors came also to beg for protection of their long & perilous voyages. In today’s gospel (Lk 1:26 -38) Mary, Jesus, & His disciples were invited to a wedding. When the couple ran out of wine, Mary said to Jesus,“They have no wine.” Although Jesus said to her, “‘Woman, what concern is that to you & to me?My hour has not yet come.’ His m...
1 comment
Read more