Apostolic Nuncio to Israel
Encyclopedia
The Apostolic Nuncio to Israel is the holder of a diplomatic
position within the Vatican
, who acts as nuncio
(Ambassador) of the Holy See
to the State of Israel.
. Before the signing of the Fundamental Accord, Apostolic Delegates were:
Diplomatic relations were established in 1994 between the Vatican and State of Israel following the signing of the Fundamental Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Israel
on 30 December 1993. Archbishop Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, who had been Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine since 1990, was appointed the first Apostolic Nuncio to Israel.
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
position within the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, who acts as nuncio
Nuncio
Nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin word, Nuntius, meaning "envoy." This article addresses this title as well as derived similar titles, all within the structure of the Roman Catholic Church...
(Ambassador) of the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
to the State of Israel.
History
In 1948, the Vatican created the office of Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine, which had jurisdiction in Palestine, Transjordania, and CyprusCyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
. Before the signing of the Fundamental Accord, Apostolic Delegates were:
Diplomatic relations were established in 1994 between the Vatican and State of Israel following the signing of the Fundamental Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Israel
Fundamental Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Israel
The Fundamental Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Israel or the Fundamental Accord is a treaty between the Holy See and the state of Israel signed by them on 30 December 1993. It deals with the property rights and tax exemptions of the Roman Catholic Church within Israeli territory...
on 30 December 1993. Archbishop Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, who had been Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine since 1990, was appointed the first Apostolic Nuncio to Israel.
Nuncios
- Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo - 19 January 1994 – 7 March 1998
- Pietro SambiPietro SambiPietro Sambi was an Italian Roman Catholic prelate who served in the Vatican's Secretariat of State. At the time of his death, he was the Titular Archbishop of Bellicastrum and the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States....
- 6 June 1998 – 17 December 2005. As nuncio to Israel, Sambi criticized the building of the wall between Israel and the Palestinian territories as "a shame to humanity." In 2003, he criticized the anti-Semitism sponsored by some Palestinian authorities. He was instrumental in Italy ceasing to fund ant-Semitic Palestinian schoolbooks. - Antonio FrancoAntonio FrancoAntonio Franco is a Vatican diplomat.He was ordained a Priest of Telese o Cerreto Sannita, Italy on 10 July 1960 and appointed Titular Archbishop of Gallesium on 28 March 1992...
- 21 January 2006 - present
Apostolic Delegates to Jerusalem and Palestine
- Gustavo TestaGustavo TestaGustavo Testa was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches from 1967 to 1968, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1959.- Biography :...
- 11 February 1948 to 6 March 1953 - Silvio Angelo Pio Oddi - 30 July 1953 to 11 January 1957
- Giuseppe Maria Sensi - 12 January 1957 to 10 May 1962
- Lino Zanini - 1962 to 1966
- Augustin-Joseph Antoine Sépinski, O.F.M. - 2 October 1965 to 5 May 1969
- Pio Laghi - 24 May 1969 to 28 May 1973
- William Aquin CarewWilliam Aquin CarewWilliam Aquin Carew is a Canadian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.William Aquin Carew was born in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador and ordained a priest on June 15, 1947. Carew was appointed titular bishop of the Telde as well as Apostolic Nuncio of Burundi and Rwanda on November 27,...
- 10 May 1974 to 30 August 1983 - Carlo CurisCarlo CurisCarlo Curis, is a Italian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.Carlo Curis was born in La Maddalena, Italy and ordained a priest on July 13, 1947. Curis was appointed titular archbishop of Medeli as well as Apostolic Delegate of Sri Lanka on July 14, 1971; ordained a bishop on October 3, 1971...
- 4 February 1984 to 28 March 1990 - Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo - 28 April 1990 to 7 March 1998
See also
- Holy See – Israel relations
- Foreign relations of IsraelForeign relations of IsraelThe foreign relations of Israel refers to diplomatic relations and international agreements between the State of Israel and other countries around the world. Israel joined the United Nations on May 11, 1949. Israel has diplomatic relations with 157 states...
- Jewish-Christian relations