The announcement was made this Monday in Luanda by Mikel Tutalo, in charge of business of the Apostolic Nunciature in Angola and São Tomé, noting that the nuncio has the mission to represent the Pope before private churches and also before states and public authorities.
"The main functions of the Apostolic Nuncio, as representative of the Holy See and head of the diplomatic mission of the Apostolic Nunciature, also known as the Vatican Embassy, is to make increasingly firm and effective the bonds of unity that exist between the Apostolic See and the private churches," said Mikel Tutalo.
The new Apostolic Nuncio, appointed one year and two months after his predecessor, the Canadian Petar Rajic, ceased functions, must also "promote and foster relations between the Apostolic See and the States.
The new Apostolic Nuncio of Angola and São Tomé, Giovanni Gaspari, was born on June 6, 1963 in Pescara, Italy. He was ordained priest on July 4, 1987 and holds a doctorate in canon law.
Giovanni Gaspari joined the Vatican diplomatic service in 2001 and occupies positions in the Secretariat of State of the Holy See.
Reacting to the appointment of the new Apostolic Nuncio, the president of the Episcopal Conference of Angola and São Tomé (CEAST), Filomeno Vieira Dias, expressed satisfaction.
"This nomination makes effective the presence of the nuncio that has its importance, in relation to the church Christian community as a sign of maximum proximity to the holy priest of our church and Christian community," he said in statements to journalists.
According to the president of CEAST, the appointment of Archbishop Giovanni Gaspari is also important in the bilateral relationship between the Vatican and the respective countries.
