Filipino priest in UN named vatican envoy to Haiti

MANILA, Philippines - Pope Benedict XVI has named yet another Filipino priest, this time one based in the United Nations, to be an apostolic nuncio to Haiti. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines disclosed Friday night that Msgr. Bernardito Auza was elevated to the dignity of archbishop with his appointment. Auza is First Counsellor of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York. In a statement on its website, the CBCP said Auza completed his theological studies at the Pontifical University of Sto. Tomas Central Seminary, and was ordained priest in 1985. CBCP secretary general Msgr. Juanito Figura expressed his elation at the choice, saying Auza deserves the assignment. "I believe he is well prepared for that, considering that his experience in the diplomatic service of the Church include stints in the Secretariat of State and in the United Nations," Figura said. Auza and Figura were contemporaries during their theology years at UST seminary. "I know him as an intellectually capable priest. His being friendly and approachable is a plus factor in that ministry," Figura said. A native of Talibon, Bohol, Auza was born in 1959 and attended his early seminary training at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Tagbilaran City. He had also been designated Titular archbishop of Suacia. The Vatican Diplomatic Corps is directly connected to the Secretariat State of the Vatican and considered the oldest diplomatic service in the world. The apostolic nuncio has a rank of ambassador and serves as the diplomatic representative of the Holy See to countries where the Vatican has diplomatic relations. Auza is the fourth Filipino appointed to the post by the Vatican. The first Filipino to be named apostolic nuncio was Archbishop Osvaldo Padilla who was designated by Pope John II as nuncio to Panama in 1990. He is currently the apostolic nuncio to Korea. His younger brother Archbishop Francisco Padilla, who is now the nuncio to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands became the third Filipino nuncio appointed by the Vatican. The second was Archbishop Adolfo Yllana from Naga City, currently the nuncio to Pakistan. - GMANews.TV