Bernardito Auza

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In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Cleopas and the surname or paternal family name is Auza.
The Most Reverend

Bernardito Cleopas Auza
Apostolic Nuncio to Spain
Bernardito Auza apr 2015.jpg
Archbishop Bernardito Auza
In office1 October 2019–present
PredecessorRenzo Fratini
Orders
Ordination29 June 1985
by 
Consecration3 July 2008
by Tarcisio Bertone
Personal details
Born (1959-06-10) 10 June 1959 (age 62)
Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
DenominationRoman Catholic
MottoUT DILIGATIS INVINCEM
("Love one another.")
Coat of armsBernardito Cleopas Auza's coat of arms
Styles of
Bernardito Auza
Coat of arms of Bernardito Cleopas Auza.svg
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleArchbishop
Ordination history of
Bernardito Auza
History
Episcopal consecration
Consecrated byTarcisio Bertone
Date3 July 2008
Episcopal succession
Bishops consecrated by Bernardito Auza as principal consecrator
18 October 2009

Bernardito Cleopas Auza is a Filipino prelate of the Catholic Church. He is the current Apostolic Nuncio to Spain, appointed to that position on 01 October 2019. Prior to this, he served under the diplomatic service of the Holy See, as well as being the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations from 2014 to 2019.[1]

Early life[]

Auza was born on 10 June 1959, in Balintawak, Talibon, Bohol, Philippines,[2] the eighth of twelve children of Meliton Garcia Auza and Magdalena Polestico Cleopas. After preliminary education in Talibon, he entered the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Tagbilaran City. He then enrolled at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, where he obtained his Licentiate in Philosophy in 1981, Licentiate in Theology in 1986, and Masters in Education also in 1986.[3]

Auza was ordained a priest by Bishop Daniel Francis Walsh of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Santa Rosa in California on 29 June 1985.

At the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), he obtained a Licentiate in Canon Law in 1989 and a Doctorate in Sacred Theology in 1990. He attended the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy to prepare for a diplomat's career.[3]

He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 1 June 1990 and worked in Madagascar and the South Indian Ocean (1990–93), Bulgaria (1993–96), Albania (1997–98), the Secretariat of State in the Section for Relations with States (1999–2006), and the Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the UN (2006–08).[2]

Apostolic Nuncio[]

On 8 May 2008, Pope Benedict XVI named Auza Titular Archbishop of Suacia and Apostolic Nuncio to Haiti.[2] He was consecrated as a bishop on 3 July 2008 by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State.[4]

On 2 July 2014, Pope Francis appointed him Permanent Observer to the United Nations in New York representing the Holy See.[5] On 16 July, his responsibilities were expanded to include the role of Permanent Observer to the Organization of American States (OAS).[6]

In October 2014 Auza called for a broad definition of the term “rule of law” that includes respect, dignity, and justice. The rule of law should be “both rationally and morally grounded upon the substantial principles of justice, including the inalienable dignity and value of every human person prior to any law or social consensus,” said Archbishop Berardito Auza, the nuncio, in a statement made during a committee meeting at the UN General Assembly. “As a consequence of the recognition of this dignity, those elements of fundamental justice such as respect for the principle of legality,” Archbishop Auza said, “the presumption of innocence and the right to due process.” Among nations, he added, the rule of law should mean “the paramount respect of human rights, equality of the rights of nations; and respect for international customary law, treaties … and other sources of international law. This definition, with its reference point in the natural law, sidesteps self-referential definitional frameworks and anchors the orientation of the rule of law within the ultimate and essential goal of all law, namely to promote and guarantee the dignity of the human person and the common good.”[7]

In the same speech he noted the Vatican’s hope that “the alarming, escalating phenomenon of international terrorism, new in some of its expressions and utterly ruthless in its barbarity, be an occasion for a deeper and more urgent study on how to re-enforce the international juridical framework of a multilateral application of our common responsibility to protect people from all forms of unjust aggression.”[8]

His assignment to the OAS ended on 31 August 2019.[9]

Pope Francis appointed him apostolic nuncio to Spain and to Andorra on 1 October 2019.[10]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 01.10.2019" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Rinunce e nomine, 08.05.2008" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 8 May 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Gaggliarducci, Andrea (11 July 2014). "Vatican's New U.N. Observer to Face Key Challenges". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Cardinal Bertone's homily at the episcopal consecration of Archbishops Vacchelli and Auza". Agenzia Fides. 7 July 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  5. ^ "Rinunce e nomine, 02.07.2014" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  6. ^ "Rinunce e nomine, 16.07.2014" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 16 July 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  7. ^ "Vatican nuncio asks United Nations to establish 'rule of law' definition". Catholic Herald. 15 October 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  8. ^ "Archbishop Auza's Statement to 69th Session of UN General Assembly, New York". Zenit News Agency. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  9. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 31.08.2019" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  10. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 01.10.2019" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Richard Pates 		Titular Archbishop of Suacia
2008–present 		Incumbent
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Mario Giordana 		Apostolic Nuncio to Haiti
2008–2014 		Succeeded by
Eugene Nugent
Preceded by
Francis Assisi Chullikatt 		Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations
2014–2019 		Succeeded by
Gabriele Giordano Caccia
Preceded by
Renzo Fratini 		Apostolic Nuncio to Spain
2019–present 		Incumbent
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