Peter Brian Wells
Encyclopedia
Peter Brian Wells JCD STL
(born 12 May 1963) is the current Assessor for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, effectively deputy to the chief of staff, Archbishop
Giovanni Angelo Becciu
since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI
on 16 July 2009. He had previously served under Fernando Filoni
until May 2011.
Wells was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma
. He was ordained a priest on 12 July 1991 and was incardinated in the Diocese of Tulsa
. He completed his studies in philosophy
at Saint Meinrad Seminary College in Indiana
, where he studied Laureti in Arts. He completed his studies in theology
, as a student at the Pontifical North American College
in Rome
.
In 1990, he obtained the baccalaureate in theology of the Pontifical Gregorian University
, later gaining the Licentiate in Theology at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family in Rome, in 1992.
He received a licentiate and a doctorate
in canon law
from Pontifical Gregorian University
in 1998 and 1999. At the same time as this he was a student at the elite Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy
.
After his ordination, he held the following positions: parochial vicar at the Cathedral of the Holy Family of Tulsa, especially Secretary of the Bishop of Tulsa and the Vicar for the Religious Education of the Diocese.
He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See
on 1 July 1999, has worked in the Apostolic Nunciature in Nigeria
and, since 2002, at the Section for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State. He speaks Italian, French, German and Spanish.
He was named Assessor on 16 July 2009 when Gabriele Giordano Caccia
was named as Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon
the same day.
Licentiate of Sacred Theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology is the title of the second cycle of studies of a Faculty of Theology offered by a pontifical universities or ecclesiastical faculties of sacred theology. An Ecclesiastical Faculty offers three cycles of study: Baccalaureate or fundamentals, Licentiate or specialized,...
(born 12 May 1963) is the current Assessor for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, effectively deputy to the chief of staff, Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Giovanni Angelo Becciu
Giovanni Angelo Becciu
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....
since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI
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 16 July 2009. He had previously served under 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...
until May 2011.
Wells was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
. He was ordained a priest on 12 July 1991 and was incardinated in the Diocese of Tulsa
Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the eastern region of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its ecclesiastical territory includes all of 31 counties in eastern Oklahoma, including the most populous county of the group, Tulsa County...
. He completed his studies in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at Saint Meinrad Seminary College in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, where he studied Laureti in Arts. He completed his studies in theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, as a student at the Pontifical North American College
Pontifical North American College
The Pontifical North American College is a Roman Catholic educational institution in Rome, Italy educating seminarians for the dioceses in the United States and providing a residence for American priests studying in Rome. It was founded in 1859 by Blessed Pope Pius IX and was granted pontifical...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
In 1990, he obtained the baccalaureate in theology of the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
, later gaining the Licentiate in Theology at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family in Rome, in 1992.
He received a licentiate and a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
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...
from Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
in 1998 and 1999. At the same time as this he was a student at the elite 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....
.
After his ordination, he held the following positions: parochial vicar at the Cathedral of the Holy Family of Tulsa, especially Secretary of the Bishop of Tulsa and the Vicar for the Religious Education of the Diocese.
He entered the diplomatic service 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...
on 1 July 1999, has worked in the Apostolic Nunciature in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
and, since 2002, at the Section for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State. He speaks Italian, French, German and Spanish.
He was named Assessor on 16 July 2009 when Gabriele Giordano Caccia
Gabriele Giordano Caccia
Gabriele Giordano Caccia PhD JCL is an Italian Catholic prelate, since 16 July 2009 Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon. He had previously served as Assessor for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State...
was named as Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon
Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon
The Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon is a diplomatic post within the Catholic Church. The Apostolic Nuncio represents the pope, currently Benedict XVI in Lebanon...
the same day.