Giovanni Angelo Becciu
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Angelo Becciu is the current Substitute for General Affairs since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI
on 10 May 2011. Archbishop Becciu had previously been nuncio
to Cuba
.
Becciu was born in 1948 in Pattada
(Sassari). After discerning a vocation and completing his studeis in theology and philisophy he was ordained to the priesthood on 27 August 1972. He was invited to attend the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy
to gain pratical experience in diplomacy and at the same time a doctoral degree. After four years Becciu earned a doctoral degree in canon law
and formally entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 1 May 1984. He his worked at the Pontifical Representations in Central African Republic
, Sudan
, New Zealand
, Liberia
, United Kingdom
, France
and the United States
.
On 15 October 2001, Pope John Paul II
appointed him Apostolic Nuncio to Angola
, at the same time as per custom elevating him to the Titular Archbishop of Roselle. On 15 November in the same year he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio also to São Tomé and Principe
. He received his episcopal consecration on 1 December 2001 with Cardinal Angelo Sodano
as principal consecrator and Archbishop Paolo Romeo
and Bishop Sebastiano Sanguinetti as principal co-consecrators.
On 23 July 2009 Pope Benedict named him Apostolic Nuncio to Cuba. There he has played a role in the negotiations, led by Cardinal Jaime Lucas Ortega y Alamino, that led to the release of dozens of political prisoners.
Archbishop Becciu remained in Cuba until 10 May 2011, when he was recalled to the Roman Curia to work as Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, replacing Fernando Filoni
, who was appointed Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
.
The Substitute for General Affairs usually meets with the Pontiff each day to handle the business of the Vatican, and his position might be compared roughly with that of a White House chief of staff. He reports directly to the Cardinal Secretary of State
.
He knows French, English, Spanish and Portuguese.
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
on 10 May 2011. Archbishop Becciu had previously been 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...
to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
.
Becciu was born in 1948 in Pattada
Pattada
Pattada is a comune in the Province of Sassari in the Italian region Sardinia, located about 150 km north of Cagliari and about 50 km southeast of Sassari. As of 31 December 2010, it had a population of 3,283 and an area of 164.9 km².It's famous for the production of Sardinian...
(Sassari). After discerning a vocation and completing his studeis in theology and philisophy he was ordained to the priesthood on 27 August 1972. He was invited to attend the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy
Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy
The Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy is one of the Roman Colleges of the Roman Catholic Church. The academy is dedicated to training priests to serve in the diplomatic corps and the Secretariat of State of the Holy See....
to gain pratical experience in diplomacy and at the same time a doctoral degree. After four years Becciu earned a doctoral degree in canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
and formally entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 1 May 1984. He his worked at the Pontifical Representations in Central African Republic
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the north east, South Sudan in the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo in the south, and Cameroon in the west. The CAR covers a land area of about ,...
, Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
On 15 October 2001, Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
appointed him Apostolic Nuncio to Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
, at the same time as per custom elevating him to the Titular Archbishop of Roselle. On 15 November in the same year he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio also to São Tomé and Principe
São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe, officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, is a Portuguese-speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa. It consists of two islands: São Tomé and Príncipe, located about apart and about , respectively, off...
. He received his episcopal consecration on 1 December 2001 with Cardinal Angelo Sodano
Angelo Sodano
Angelo Sodano is an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current Dean of the College of Cardinals and former Vatican Secretary of State, having held that post from 1990 to 2006, under both popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI...
as principal consecrator and Archbishop Paolo Romeo
Paolo Romeo
Paolo Romeo STL JCD is the current Cardinal Archbishop of Palermo. He was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI on 19 December 2006.Romeo was the fifth of nine children...
and Bishop Sebastiano Sanguinetti as principal co-consecrators.
On 23 July 2009 Pope Benedict named him Apostolic Nuncio to Cuba. There he has played a role in the negotiations, led by Cardinal Jaime Lucas Ortega y Alamino, that led to the release of dozens of political prisoners.
Archbishop Becciu remained in Cuba until 10 May 2011, when he was recalled to the Roman Curia to work as Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, replacing Fernando Filoni
Fernando Filoni
Fernando Filoni is a Roman Catholic Archbishop and current Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples with the Roman Curia since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 10 May 2011. Msgr. Filoni is an expert in Chinese affairs and on the Middle East. -Education and early...
, who was appointed Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Rome is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for missionary work and related activities...
.
The Substitute for General Affairs usually meets with the Pontiff each day to handle the business of the Vatican, and his position might be compared roughly with that of a White House chief of staff. He reports directly to the Cardinal Secretary of State
Cardinal Secretary of State
The Cardinal Secretary of State—officially Secretary of State of His Holiness The Pope—presides over the Holy See, usually known as the "Vatican", Secretariat of State, which is the oldest and most important dicastery of the Roman Curia...
.
He knows French, English, Spanish and Portuguese.