Appointment of new Apostolic Nuncio to the Arabian Peninsula

5 April 2016 (Abu Dhabi).

The Holy Father has appointed H.E. Msgr. Francisco Montecillo Padilla, Titular Archbishop of Nebbio as Apostolic Nuncio to the State of Kuwait and Apostolic Delegate to the Arabian Peninsula. The appointment was made public today at the Vatican at 12 noon local time.

Msgr. Padilla hails from the Republic of The Philippines. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1976 and holds a doctorate in Theology. He entered the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See in 1985, and his first assignment was in the Apostolic Nunciature of the Dominican Republic.

Msgr. Padilla then worked in the Pontifical Representations in Venezuela, Austria, India, Japan and Australia. He was appointed Papal Nuncio in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Timor Leste on 1 April 2006 and soon after consecrated bishop on 23 May 2006.

Prior to his appointment to the Arabian Peninsula, Archbishop Padilla served as Apostolic Nuncio in Tanzania since 10 November 2011.

The Archbishop is fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, French and German.