Pope Franc is has appointed a new ambassador to Australia.
A veteran of the Vatican’s diplomatic service for more than 30 years, Archbishop Charles Balvo will service as the next Apostolic Nuncio to Australia.
Currently the Vatican’s ambassador to the Czech Republic, Archbishop Balvo was born in New York City and ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of New York in 1976.
He served in apostolic nunciatures in South America, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. He was also Apostolic Nuncio to New Zealand and several Pacific Island nations for eight years from 2005.
In 2013, Archbishop Balvo was named Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and took on responsibility for South Sudan after the country was established. While posted in Kenya, Archbishop Balvo also served as Permanent Observer to the United Nations Environment Program and Human Settlements Program.
He has been in the Czech Republic since 2018.
Archbishop Balvo succeeds Archbishop Adolfo Yllana, who last year completed six-and-a-half years in Australia when Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and Cyprus, and Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine.
Bishop Anthony Randazzo looks forward to welcoming the new Apostolic Nuncio to the Diocese of Broken Bay as the year unfolds.
Image: Archbishop Charles Balvo