Carlo Maria Viganò
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
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.
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".
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". Archbishop Vigano chose the 19 October as date of announcement of his appointment as it is the feast of North American Martyrs.
JUD
A Doctor of Canon and Civil Law, from the Latin doctor utriusque juris, or juris utriusque doctor, or doctor juris utriusque is a scholar who has acquired a doctorate in both civil law and church law...
(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
President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State
The President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State is the leader of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, the legislative body of Vatican City. As a senior member of the Roman Curia, the president is normally a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church...
, from 16 July 2009 to 3 September 2011.
Early life
Viganò was ordainedHoly Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
a priest on 24 March 1968. He earned a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in utroque iure (both canon and civil law). He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
in 1973, and worked at the papal diplomatic mission in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
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
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
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 NigeriaNigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
, who, with Cardinals Franciszek Macharski and Angelo Sodano
Angelo Sodano
Angelo Sodano is an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current Dean of the College of Cardinals and former Vatican Secretary of State, having held that post from 1990 to 2006, under both popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI...
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.
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 SeeHoly See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
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
Disarmament
Disarmament is the act of reducing, limiting, or abolishing weapons. Disarmament generally refers to a country's military or specific type of weaponry. Disarmament is often taken to mean total elimination of weapons of mass destruction, such as nuclear arms...
at the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and urging all parties to reach agreement on definitive and complete disarmament".
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, an appointment published on 19 October 2011. 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". Archbishop Vigano chose the 19 October as date of announcement of his appointment as it is the feast of North American Martyrs.