3 July 2014, 10:57 p.m. – A THOMASIAN prelate has been named by Pope Francis as the Vatican’s representative to the United Nations (UN) in New York.
Archbishop Bernardito Auza, 55, the apostolic nuncio to Haiti, was appointed as permanent observer of the Holy See to the UN last July 1, replacing Indian Archbishop Francis Chulikatt who had been serving since 2010.
Auza’s new job as permanent observer to the UN includes following “attentively and with interest the work of UN Organizations,” according to the official website of the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the UN.
“In this forum, the Holy See Mission communicates the centuries’ experience of the Catholic Church to humanity, and places this experience at the disposal of the United Nations to assist it in its realization of peace, justice, human dignity and humanitarian cooperation and assistance,” the website stated.
Auza was appointed by the Pope’s predecessor, now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, as the apostolic nuncio to Haiti on May 8, 2008. He was there during the massive earthquake in 2010 that destroyed a huge part of western Haiti.
Born in Talibon, Bohol, Auza obtained his Licentiate in Philosophy in 1981, Licentiate in Theology in 1986, and Master’s in Education in 1986 from UST. Angeli Mae S. Cantillana
