Pope appoints new apostolic nuncio to Arabian Gulf region

(December 4, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI has appointed a new representative of the Holy See to the Arabian Gulf region. The Vatican said on Wednesday the Holy Father has nominated Msgr. Petar Rajic Apostolic Nuncio to Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, and apostolic delegate to the Arabian Peninsula. Along with this appointment Msgr. Rajic, who is the nunciature counsellor, has been elevated to the rank of archbishop. He succeeds Archbishop Paul-Mounged El-Hachem who has retired on reaching the age of 75. The archbishop-elect was born in Toronto, Canada in 1959 and ordained a priest in 1987. His parents are originally from what is today Bosnia-Herzegovina. The office of the Apostolic Nuncio to Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, and Apostolic Delegate to the Arabian Peninsula is based in Kuwait. The Gulf region is predominantly Muslim, with a large expatriate workforce from Asia forming the small Christian community.