Mons. Antoine Camilleri, the new representative of Pope Francis in Cuba, was received last Tuesday by the bishops of the island during a ceremony.
The new Apostolic Nuncio, originally from the island of Malta, was in Cuba in 2005 and 2006 as a member of the Vatican diplomatic mission in Havana, and returned to the Caribbean country after 18 years, reported ACI Prensa.
On May 20, the Pope Francis appointed him as his representative in Cuba. After this appointment, and having served as apostolic nuncio in countries in Oceania and Africa, the prelate returned to America.
The Communications Office of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba (COCC), quoted by ACI Prensa, reported that the prelate presented his letter of introduction to the president of the Cuban Episcopate, Mons. Emilio Aranguren, who thanked him for his presence in the country.
According to the COCC, “the new nuncio had the opportunity to get to know this town and this church. He made it known that the Cuban bishops want, in a special way, to have a close bond of communion between the Pope, the nunciature in Cuba, and the small episcopal college that he presides.”
The prelate expressed his happiness at returning to the house that welcomed him 18 years ago and offered his help and support to advance the mission of the church on the island, as stated in the statement.
Mons. Camilleri is the third nuncio appointed by Pope Francis for Cuba and the eleventh representative of the Vatican in the country since 1948. Currently, Cuba has 11 dioceses, 12 bishops (2 of whom are auxiliary and 4 emeritus).
In 2019, Pope Francis appointed Monsignor Giampiero Gloder, Titular Archbishop of Telde (Spain), as Apostolic Nuncio to Cuba.
This announcement came shortly after the Pope appointed the new Archbishop of Havana, Juan de la Caridad García, as a cardinal.
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