Ireland: Archbishop welcomes appointment of new Papal Nuncio

Archbishop Luis Montemayor Wiki Image: MONUSCO

Source: Irish Catholic Media Office

The Holy Father Pope Francis has appointed His Excellency Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor, Titular Archbishop of Illici, up until now the Apostolic Nuncio to Colombia, as the new Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland.

The President of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference and Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin, said: "I very much welcome today's news that Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor as Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland. I pray God's blessings on Archbishop Mariano and look forward to meeting with him when he takes up his appointment in Ireland in the near future."

As Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, His Excellency Archbishop Montemayor succeeds His Excellency Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo who currently serves as Apostolic Nuncio in Prague, Czechia.

Archbishop Montemayor was born on 16 March 1956 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was ordained a priest on 15 November 1985. Between 1991-2008 he earned a PhD in Canon Law, and served at the Apostolic Nunciature in Ethiopia, Brazil, Thailand, and the Secretariat of State. In 2008 he served as Apostolic Nuncio in Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Capo Verde and Apostolic Delegate in Mauritania. In 2015 he became Apostolic Nuncio in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2018 he was Apostolic Nuncio in Colombia.

Archbishop Montemayor speaks the following languages fluently: Spanish, Italian, French, English, and Portuguese.