(June 18.06.2011) Pope Benedict XVI nominated on Saturday Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli
as Apostolic Nuncio to A.S.E.A.N., the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, established
on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the , by the Founding Fathers
of ASEAN, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, joined
later by Brunei, Viet Nam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia to form the 10 member states.
Archbishop Girelli has been, to date, Apostolic Nuncio to Singapore and East Timor,
Apostolic Delegate for Malaysia and Brunei, as also non-resident Pontifical Representative
for Vietnam.