NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Fred Mitchell welcomed His Excellency The Most Reverend Nicola Girasoli, Apostolic Nuncio (Designate) of the Holy See during a Courtesy Call at the Ministry on Wednesday, June 13, 2102.
The Holy See is the universal government of the Catholic Church and operates from the Vatican City State, a sovereign independent territory. The Pope serves as head of both.
During the courtesy call, talks focused on human rights issues, the poor, promotion of strong family values, education and the relationship between The Bahamas and the Vatican.
On July 5, 1960, The Bahamas was raised to a Diocese. Then in 1999, the Diocese of Nassau was elevated to an Archdiocese whose province includes the Diocese of Hamilton, Bermuda and the Mission of the Turks and Caicos Islands. In 2003, Patrick Christopher Pinder was ordained the first Bahamian Bishop and the following year he was installed as Archbishop of Nassau.
Archbishop Girasoli will also present his Credentials in a ceremony at Government House (Thursday, June 14 at 12:30 p.m.), pay courtesy calls on Perry Christie, Prime Minister and other high ranking officials.
Archbishop Girasoli was born on July 21, 1957 at Ruvo di Puglia in the Province of Bari, Italy. He was ordained a priest on June 15, 1980 with incardination in the diocese of Ruvo di Puglia and has been in the diplomatic service of the Holy See since May 10, 1985. The archbishop has served in Hungary, Belgium, the United States and Argentina. He possesses a Doctorate in Cannon Law and speaks English, French and Spanish besides his mother tongue, Italian.
By LINDSAY THOMPSON
BAHAMAS INFORMATION SERVICES
