TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines–Pope Benedict XVI has named another Filipino as apostolic nuncio or the Vatican’s ambassador to Haiti.
Monsignor Bernardito C. Auza, first counsellor of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York, was appointed apostolic nuncio of Haiti by the Pope on Thursday, according to a notice from Vatican read during Sunday masses at all churches here.
Auza, a Boholano, is the fourth Filipino to be appointed to such a high diplomatic position in the Roman Catholic Church.
The first to be named apostolic nuncio is Archbishop Oswaldo Padilla, now in Korea. The third is his younger brother, Archbishop Francisco Padilla, now in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. The second is Archbishop Adolfo Yllana currently in Pakistan.
A Church diplomat, Auza, who is from Talibon, Bohol, will be bestowed the dignity of an archbishop now that he is apostolic nuncio.
His stint in New York from 2006-2008 involved preparations for the highly successful visit of the Holy Father to the United States last month.
In 1999 to 2006, Auza was assigned counsellor at the Vatican Section for Relations with States (Foreign Ministry).
From New York, the 48-year old diplomat flew to Rome after his recent appointment was published by the Holy See on Thursday. He is to prepare for his consecration, which may take place early July, the Vatican notice stated.
Auza, the eighth of 12 children, was born on June 10, 1959 in Balintawak, Talibon, Bohol to couple Meliton G. Auza and Magdalena P. Cleofas.
Having finished elementary in Talibon, he entered the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Tagbilaran City. After high school, he proceeded to the University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary, finishing his Philosophy studies in 1981 and his Theology in 1986. He also obtained the degree of Master of Arts in Education in the same year 1986.
As scholar, he was sent to the University of St. Thomas (Angelicum) in Rome, where he obtained the Licentiate in Canon Law in 1989 and to the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy (Vatican Diplomatic School) where he finished his diplomatic studies in 1990.
He served as secretary to the Apostolic Nunciature in Madagascar and Mauritius in 1990-93 and in Bulgaria in 1993-96. He was counsellor in Albania in 1997-98 with a stint in the United Kingdom as charge d’ affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in London.
