Saturday, March 05, 2011

New nuncio presents his papers to the Queen

The new Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, Archbishop Antonio Mennini, Wednesday presented his diplomatic papers to the Queen.

He was taken from Archbishop’s House to Buckingham Palace in a horse-drawn carriage before presenting a letter of his appointment and his predecessor’s resignation papers. 

It was reported that an altar server from Westminster Cathedral was the coachman for the nuncio’s carriage.

Archbishop Mennini, 63, who is Italian, previously served for eight years as nuncio to Russia. 

He was highly regarded for the way he handled the Church’s delicate relationship with 
Moscow and was credited with improving relations dramatically.

The previous nuncio, Archbishop Faustino Sainz Muñoz, stepped down in December because of ill health.