Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Archbishop Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation
for the Evangelisation of peoples. He replaces Indian Cardinal Ivan Dias, whose resignation
from office on having reached the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
Archbishop
Filoni, 65, previously held the post of substitute for general affairs of the Secretary
of State. He will be replaced in that post by Nuncio to Cuba, Msgr. Giovanni Angelo
Becciu.
A native of Taranto Italy, Archbishop Filoni is a widely experienced
diplomat who has held posts in Sri Lanka, Iran, Brazil and the Philippines twice.
He was appointed to Iraq and Jordan by the late Blessed John Paul II on the eve of
the US led invasion. When war broke out he remained in residence in Baghdad.
A
noted expert on the Church in China, Archbishop Filoni was brought back to the Curia
by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007. The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
is responsible for missionary work and related Church activities and is often referred
to as Propaganda Fide. Archbishop Filoni will join recently appointed Congregation
secretary Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai of Hong Kong.