Francis Chullikatt
Encyclopedia
Francis Assisi Chullikatt JCD (20 March 1953 - )is the current Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations
since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI
on 17 July 2010. He had previously served as Apostolic Nuncio to Iraq
and Jordan
.
Chullikatt was born in 1953 in Bolghatty, Kochi
, India
. He was incardated in the diocese of Verapoly where he was ordained a priest on 3 June 1978. He continued his studies and received a doctorate
in canon law
. Apart from English and Italian he also knows French and Spanish. He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 15 July 1988. He served in the papal representations in Honduras
, in various countries of southern Africa, in the Philippines
, at the United Nations in New York from 2000 to 2004, where he served as a Counsellor at the Holy See's Mission to the United Nations and, finally, in the Secretariat of State in the Vatican. He was appointed as Apostolic Nuncio to Iraq
and Jordan
and Titular Archbishop of Ostra on 29 April 2006 by Pope Benedict, having served as the counsellor to the nunciature. He replaced Archbishop Fernando Filoni who was appointed as Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines
. He took Fidei in Virtute or "By the power of faith" as his episcopal motto.
In March 2010 Archbishop Chullikatt said that "any attempt to decrease the Christian presence or worse, to destroy the Christian presence in Iraq would mean destroying the history of the Iraqi nation." He noted that all the Christian churches and Christian leaders in the country are involved in interreligious dialogue and are in constant contact with Muslim leaders. Archbishop Chullikatt stated that international solidarity is crucial for the survival of Iraq's minorities, "especially the Christians who are most exposed to the kind of violence taking place now, particularly in Mosul."
by Pope Benedict XVI
on 17 July 2010. He is the first non-Italian to hold the post. He takes over from Archbishop Celestino Migliore who had been appointed as Apostolic Nuncio to Poland
. In Iraq, Monsignor Giorgio Lingua
, formerly nunciature counsellor, was named the new Apostolic Nuncio with the rank of titular archbishop by Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday, 4 September 2010. The archbishop was born in Fossano, Italy in 1960 and ordained to the presbyterate in 1984.
Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations
The Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations is the representative of the Holy See at the United Nations. The diplomatic mission does not have full ambassador status and thus cannot vote — a decision it has freely taken...
since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
on 17 July 2010. He had previously served as Apostolic Nuncio to Iraq
Apostolic Nuncio to Iraq
The Apostolic Nuncio to Iraq is the representative of the Holy See in Iraq. He is appointed by the Pope, currently Benedict XVI, and represents all Catholics in the country, both Latin Rite and Eastern Catholic, on behalf of the pope. Since 1966 the government of Iraq has had full diplomatic...
and Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
.
Chullikatt was born in 1953 in Bolghatty, Kochi
Kochi
-Places:* Kochi, a city in the state of Kerala, India, formerly known as Cochin* Kingdom of Cochin, a former feudal city-state on Malabar Coast, India** Fort Kochi, one of the three main urban components which constitute the present day city of Kochi, Kerala, India...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He was incardated in the diocese of Verapoly where he was ordained a priest on 3 June 1978. He continued his studies and received 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 canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
. Apart from English and Italian he also knows French and Spanish. He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 15 July 1988. He served in the papal representations in Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
, in various countries of southern Africa, in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, at the United Nations in New York from 2000 to 2004, where he served as a Counsellor at the Holy See's Mission to the United Nations and, finally, in the Secretariat of State in the Vatican. He was appointed as Apostolic Nuncio to 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 Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
and Titular Archbishop of Ostra on 29 April 2006 by Pope Benedict, having served as the counsellor to the nunciature. He replaced Archbishop Fernando Filoni who was appointed as Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines
Apostolic Nunciature to the Philippines
The Apostolic Nunciature to the Philippines is a top-level diplomatic mission of the Holy See to the Republic of the Philippines. An apostolic nuncio is equivalent to an ambassador. He is often an archbishop.-History:...
. He took Fidei in Virtute or "By the power of faith" as his episcopal motto.
Nuncio to Iraq and Jordan
In February 2010, Archbishop Chullikatt said that Christians have often been targets, and especially the Christians of Mosul "have paid a high price, despite their unanimously recognized peaceful life." He continued saying "One has the impression that the reason to attack these minorities is strictly and only their religious faith or their different ethnic membership," the nunciature note continues. "Many Christians live in fear of staying in the territory which has seen them present for 2,000 years. The statement declares that "urgent help is needed: Especially necessary is that the pressure of world opinion not fall, so that all the violence and discrimination ends immediately." The statement suggests the future of minorities depends on international attention. "Moreover, it is hoped that the local authorities will not fail to attempt anything to guarantee the defenseless all the protection to which they are entitled, precisely in virtue of their Iraqi citizenship, which they have never betrayed," it continues. "Christians request that they be able to live their life in tranquility and profess their faith with total security, a basic condition of every civilization."In March 2010 Archbishop Chullikatt said that "any attempt to decrease the Christian presence or worse, to destroy the Christian presence in Iraq would mean destroying the history of the Iraqi nation." He noted that all the Christian churches and Christian leaders in the country are involved in interreligious dialogue and are in constant contact with Muslim leaders. Archbishop Chullikatt stated that international solidarity is crucial for the survival of Iraq's minorities, "especially the Christians who are most exposed to the kind of violence taking place now, particularly in Mosul."
Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations
Archbishop Chullikatt was appointed as Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United NationsPermanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations
The Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations is the representative of the Holy See at the United Nations. The diplomatic mission does not have full ambassador status and thus cannot vote — a decision it has freely taken...
by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
on 17 July 2010. He is the first non-Italian to hold the post. He takes over from Archbishop Celestino Migliore who had been appointed as Apostolic Nuncio to Poland
Apostolic Nuncio to Poland
The Apostolic Nuncio to Poland is one of the oldest nuncios, appointed by the Pope as apostolic representative to the Roman Catholic Church in Poland. Three nuncios to Poland went on to be elected pope...
. In Iraq, Monsignor Giorgio Lingua
Giorgio Lingua
Giorgio Lingua is the current Apostolic Nuncio to Iraq and Jordan since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 4 September 2010....
, formerly nunciature counsellor, was named the new Apostolic Nuncio with the rank of titular archbishop by Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday, 4 September 2010. The archbishop was born in Fossano, Italy in 1960 and ordained to the presbyterate in 1984.