Pope Francis appoints new representative to Zimbabwe

The Sunday Mail

Online Reporter 

POPE FRANCIS has appointed Monsignor Janusz Stanislaw Urbañczyk as the new Apostolic Nuncio to Zimbabwe.

He also elevated him with the dignity of Archbishop.

The Apostolic Nunciature in Zimbabwe has been vacant since July last year following the transfer of Archbishop Paolo Rudelli to Colombia, who had served as the pope’s representative since January 2020.

Apostolic Nuncio Urbañczyk was born in Kraszewo, Poland, on May 19, 1967.

He was ordained priest on June 13, 1992 for the Diocese of Elblqg, Poland, and entered the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See on July 1, 1997.

In a statement, Pope Francis said: “Since 12 January 2015, he has been working in Vienna, as permanent representative of the Holy See to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

“He also worked to the Organisation for the Security and Co-operation in Europe, to the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organisation; as well as permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation and to the United Nations Office in Vienna.”

The graduate in Canon Law, who speaks English, Italian, Slovak and Spanish, has served in the pontifical representations in Bolivia, Slovakia, New Zealand, Kenya and the United Nations.