Media Release

Bengaluru, May 3: The Holy Father Pope Francis newly appointed Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal Archbishop Dr Giambattista Diquattro was cordially received and welcomed by Archbishop Dr Bernard Moras at the Archbishop’s house on May 1 along with members of the Archdiocesan Curia at 1.15 pm.

The Papal ambassador (appointed on January 21) was warmly greeted with a bouquet, a garland and draped with an Indian shawl by the Archbishop in the midst of vicars general Monsignor S Jayanathan, Monsignor C Francis, chancellor Fr A S Anthony swamy, financial administrator Fr Martin Kumar, secretary to the Archbishop Fr Selva
Kumar and NBCLC director Fr Sagayaraj John. He expressed great joy over being in India. “I always admire the faith, fervor and devotion of the Catholics in India and it is certainly a joy to be here,” the Prelate said. Archbishop Moras who is the spiritual head for over four million Catholics briefed the Nuncio on the various pastoral and spiritual initiatives in the Archdiocese.

Archbishop Dr Giambattista Diquattro was in the city to preside over the Eucharistic celebration and celebrations of the NBCLC on May 2. He will also preside over a concelebrated High Mass at the Infant Jesus Shrine on May 4.

The Italian Archbishop who joined the Vatican Diplomatic Service in 1985 has since served in several key positions as Apostolic Nuncio to Bolivia, diplomatic positions in the pontifical representations of the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chad, Vatican Secretariat of state, as Vatican representative in the UN in New York, in the Apostolic Nunciature in Italy and also as Apostolic Nuncio of Panama. The Prelate speaks fluent Italian, French, Spanish and English.