Archbishop Fernando Filoni is the
new pro-prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
(Propaganda Fide).
Filoni replaces card. Ivan Dias of India, who has
reached the end of his term. Filoni, a Holy See diplomat, was born in
Manduria (Taranto) April 15, 1946. He is currently substitute for the
Secretariat of State. Ordained July 3, 1970, he served in various
nunciatures: Sri Lanka, Iran, Brazil and finally in the Philippines,
1992-2001.
Although he was formally assigned to the embassy in Manila, his
base of operations was Hong Kong. At that time he played a key role in
what was called the " Study Mission" on China, linked to the Philippines
Nunciature.
In that role he established contacts with the Chinese
Catholic Church, both the "official" and the "underground".
John Paul II appointed him nuncio in Jordan and Iraq on January
17, 2001. He resided in Baghdad. When war broke out in Iraq, he did not
want to leave the nunciature, and remained in the capital for the
duration of the conflict.
On February 25, 2006 he was called back to the
Philippines as Nuncio.
In June 2007, Benedict XVI called him to Rome to assume the role of the substitute Secretary of State