The former Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, has received a Knighthood from King Charles III, recognising his outstanding contributions to international diplomacy and interfaith dialogue.
Archbishop Sir Gallagher was appointed a Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in the civil division during King Charles’ and Queen Camila’s visit to the Vatican.
Archbishop Gallagher was born and raised in Liverpool and was ordained priest in 1977.
After serving in Liverpool, he studied at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in Rome, the training ground for Vatican diplomats, graduating in 1984 with a Doctorate in Canon Law.
His first three postings in the diplomatic service took him to three continents: Africa and Tanzania; Uruguay in South America and to Asia and the Philippines.
He was ordained Titular Archbishop of Hodelm by Cardinal Angelo Sodano on 13 March 2004 and was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Burundi.
In 2009 he was appointed to Guatemala and on 11 December 2012 he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to be Apostolic Nuncio to Australia. He has served as the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States since 2014.
The Order of St Michael and St George is appointed to men and women who hold high office or who render extraordinary or important non-military service to the United Kingdom in a foreign country. It is also conferred on people for important service in relation to foreign and Commonwealth affairs.
Many of those appointed to the Order are former Governor-Generals to Commonwealth nations or ambassadors.