Pope Francis has appointed the former Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland as a new apostolic nuncio to the Philippines. The Pope has transferred US-born Archbishop Charles John Brown, currently the Apostolic Nuncio to Albania, to head the Holy See’s diplomatic mission to the Philippines in Manila.
The Apostolic Nuncio’s post in the Philippines has been vacant since November 2019, when Pope Francis transferred Italian Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia to the United Nations in New York as head the Holy See’s Permanent Observer mission.
Archbishop Charles John Brown was born on 13 October 1959, and was ordained a priest of New York Archdiocese on 13 May 1989. Before coming to Rome, he worked as assistant parish priest St. Brendan’s Church in the Bronx.
In September 2009, he was appointed as adjunct secretary of the International Theological Commission, which helps the Holy See, primarily the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in examining doctrinal questions of major importance.
On 26 November 2011, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Father Brown as Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, elevating him to the dignity of archbishop. Pope Benedict ordained him bishop on Epiphany Day, January 6, 2012.
Archbishop Brown spent five years as Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland until his departure in 2017. Speaking at that time, Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh praised Archbishop brown’s “energy, courtesy, openness, warmth and cooperativeness” and said he had “endeared himself to so many people in Ireland”.
Archbishop Martin said that Archbishop Brown had travelled the length and breadth of the island, serving Pope Francis and previously Pope Benedict as the representative of the Holy See.
He said, “Thanks to his down to earth and friendly nature, many Irish people have had the opportunity to meet with the ‘Pope’s ambassador’ and chat to him about the living Church in Ireland. I know that he has very much appreciated and valued this interaction.”
ENDS
Source: Vatican News and www.catholicbishops.ie
