Pope names Filipino archbishop as papal nuncio to S. Korea

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Embassy in Seoul reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Vatican has appointed Filipino Archbishop Osvaldo Padilla as the next Apostolic Nuncio to the Republic of Korea. Archbishop Padilla currently serves as the Apostolic Nuncio in Costa Rica. His tour of duty in Seoul begins in July. Archbishop Padilla is the first Filipino Apostolic Nuncio appointed by the Vatican. His previous postings as Apostolic Nuncio were in Sri Lanka (1994), Nigeria (1998), and Costa Rica (2003). He is the elder brother of Archbishop Francisco Padilla, the third Filipino Apostolic Nuncio appointed by the Vatican, who is currently posted in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. The Padilla brothers hail from Cebu. The second Filipino Nuncio is Archbishop Adolfo Yllana from Naga City, currently the Apostolic Nuncio to Pakistan. The Seoul Archdiocese announced the good news to the Filipino community gathered at the Sunday Mass at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Hyewahdong. Philippine Ambassador to Korea Luis Cruz expressed his heartfelt appreciation to Fr. Theophilus Choi of the Seoul Archdiocese for the announcement. “The Filipino community is truly blessed, masaya kaming lahat," said Dr. Emely Abagat, a Filipino community leader in South Korea. “It truly gives the Filipino community an inspiration." - GMANews.TV