Pope Francis names Boholano archbishop as new Vatican envoy to EU

CHURCH’S PRIDE Filipino Archbishop Bernardito Auza, who has been serving in the Holy See’s diplomatic corps for more than 30
years, takes on a new role as apostolic nuncio to the European Union. —Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines photo

MANILA, Philippines — Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop Bernardito Auza, a native of Bohol province, as the new ambassador of the Holy See to the European Union (EU).

Auza, 65, will continue to serve as apostolic nuncio to Spain and Andorra until he assumes his new role in Brussels in the coming weeks, according to a Vatican announcement last week. He succeeds Archbishop Noël Treanor, 73, who died in August 2024.

The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (Comece) welcomed Auza’s appointment, praising his “remarkable legacy of diplomatic engagement and ecclesial service.”

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“For decades, he has played a pivotal role within the diplomatic service of the Holy See, demonstrating profound commitment and vision,” Comece president Bishop Mariano Crociata said.

“I am confident that our collaboration will be both fruitful and impactful in advancing the common good in the European Union,” he added.

An apostolic nuncio, or papal nuncio, serves as the Vatican’s official ambassador, representing the Holy See in diplomatic relations with a country or international organization.

Veteran diplomat

A native of Talibon, a town in Bohol, Auza was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Tagbilaran in June 1985. A year later, he was assigned to the newly created Diocese of Talibon.

He earned a Doctorate in Sacred Theology in Rome and entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1990.

Auza is a veteran Vatican diplomat who served as the permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations from 2014 to 2019, where he advocated for human rights and peacebuilding.

He also served as the apostolic nuncio of Madagascar, Bulgaria and Albania before serving for a number of years in the Secretariat of State in the Vatican.

In 2006, he was assigned to serve at the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the UN until Pope Benedict XVI appointed him apostolic nuncio to Haiti in May 2008, and elevated him to archbishop.

According to his profile on Vatican News, Auza welcomed Pope Francis to the UN on Sept. 25, 2015, and participated in the negotiations that led to the adoption of various international documents, such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Treaty on the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, the Global Compact on Safe Orderly and Regular Migration and many other multilateral achievements.

In a Facebook post, Tagbilaran Bishop Alberto Uy hailed the appointment of Auza as nuncio to the EU. “Proudly Boholano, from Talibon—Archbishop Barney Auza,” he said.

The Talibon diocese also welcomed Auza’s appointment, saying “Dalaygon ang Diyos (Praise be to God)!”