Pope Benedict XVI is to nominate a new papal envoy to Ireland early in the new year, according to senior church sources. This follows the announcement from Rome on Saturday of the transfer of the Holy See's current ambassador to Ireland, Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, to Australia.
Archbishop Lazzarotto, who has served as Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland since November 2000, has been assigned responsibility for preparing next year's visit by Pope Benedict to Australia, especially the events connected with World Youth Day in Sydney.
Before being assigned to Dublin, Archbishop Lazzarotto spent six years in Jordan and Iraq.
Abuse
His stint in Ireland was dominated by his monitoring of clerical sex abuse scandals, and the putting in place by the Irish bishops of new child-protection guidelines.
In a message of congratulations, the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, said Archbishop Lazzarotto had acquired a great knowledge of the Irish Church and of the cultural and political situation in Ireland.
"He was an Apostolic Nuncio who listened and observed," Dr Martin added. "Archbishop Lazzarotto supported the local Church and indeed had a great affection for the Church in Ireland."
Dr Martin described him as a Nuncio who never lost touch with the pastoral dimensions of his mission. "He was delighted to celebrate the sacrament of confirmation in a number of Dublin parishes each year."
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