New Apostolic Nuncio arrives in Uganda

Apr 09, 2019

He replaces Archbishop Michael Blume who was transferred to Hungary last year.

RELIGION

The new Papal representative to Uganda, Archbishop Luigi Bianco has arrived in the country.

Bianco, who was serving in Ethiopia as papal nuncio, arrived in the country on Monday  at 10.57 am aboard  Ethiopian Airlines. He replaces Archbishop Michael Blume who was transferred to Hungary last year.   

 

He was received at Entebbe International Airport by a powerful large delegation led by the Chairman of the Episcopal Conference, Bishop Dr. Joseph Anthony Zziwa.

The others in the group included Archbishop of Kampala, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference, Msgr John Baptist Kauta, Msgr Alfred Rayan D'Souza, who has been acting as the Nuncio since Archbishop August Blume SVD, left; The first Vicar General of Kampala, Msgr Charles Kasibante and Fr Honoratus Kazibwe, Private Secretary of Kampala Archbishop.

Pope Francis appointed Italian Archbishop Luigi Bianco as the new Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda two months back.

The smiling new Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Bianco, hails from Italy, while Blume was an American.

Archbishop Bianco, the titular Archbishop of Falerone has until his appointment been the Apostolic Nuncio to Ethiopia, overseeing Djibouti and also in charge of Somalia. He served Honduras before he was transferred to Ethiopia.

Who is Archbishop Bianco?

Archbishop Luigi Bianco was born on March 3, 1960 in Montemagno Italy. He was ordained a priest on March 30, 1985 at Diocese of Casale Monferrato, Italy. He earned a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Urban University in Rome. He was appointed Titular Archbishop of Falerone, on January 12, 2009, and ordained bishop on April 25 2009, at Sant'Evasio Cathedral, Casale Monferrato, Diocese of Casale Monferrato, Italy, by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

 

  ew apal uncio rchbishop uigi ianco welcomed by bishops rchbishop of ampala r yprian izito wanga chairman of piscopal onference r oseph nthony ziwa at ntebbe nternational irport on onday morning hoto by uliet ukwago New Papal Nuncio Archbishop Luigi Bianco welcomed by bishops (Archbishop of Kampala, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, chairman of Episcopal Conference, Dr Joseph Anthony Zziwa at Entebbe International Airport on Monday morning (Photo by Juliet Lukwago )
 
 

 

He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on July 1, 1989. He served in the various Nunciatures, including in Italy, Egypt, Argentina, Croatia and Spain. On January 12, 2009, he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Honduras. On July 14, 2014, he was appointed as Apostolic Nuncio to Ethiopia. Later, on September 10, 2014, he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Djibouti and Apostolic Delegate to Somalia

Apart from his native Italian, Archbishop Bianco is a fluent speaker of Spanish, English and Croatian languages.

With a doctorate in Canon Law, he entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on July 1, 1989.

Last July, Pope Francis transferred Archbishop Michael August Blume with immediate effect. Blume, who was in the position since February 2, 2013 on appointment by Pope Benedict XVI, (now Pope Emeritus).

Nuncio in Catholic Church

A papal nuncio (officially known as an apostolic nuncio) is a permanent diplomatic representative of the Holy See to a state

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