The Apostolic Nunciature in the Philippines is a top-level diplomatic mission assigned by the Holy See to the Philippines, located at 2140 Taft Avenue, Malate, Manila.
Diplomatically, an apostolic nuncio may be equivalent to an ambassador, and often carries the ecclesial title of archbishop. The nuncio works closely with the Archdiocese of Manila, and is by custom the dean of the diplomatic corps.
History
The Apostolic Nunciature in the Philippines was erected circa 1899. Though the official residence of the nuncio is located in Manila, he is not subject to the Archdiocese of Manila but directly to the Pope like other bishops and archbishops, including those who are cardinals, as he is the Pope's representative in the Philippines.
World War II
When the Philippines was caught in World War II following the commencement of the Japanese invasion of East Asia, communication between the Holy See and the Philippine Delegation (Msgr. Guglielmo Piani, SDB), or any of the other delegations of the region, was not permitted. However, the Apostolic Delegation in Tokyo (Msgr. Paolo Marella) was permitted to communicate with the censored delegations.[1]
In 1943, the Second Philippine Republic was inaugurated. In a letter dated October 14, 1943 (the day of the inauguration), the newly elected president of the puppet government, Jose P. Laurel, wrote to Luigi Cardinal Maglione, the Vatican secretary of state:[2]
I have the honor to inform your excellency that of october fourteenth nineteen hundred and forty three the Philippines proclaimed her independence and declared herself a sovereign nation and organised a Government republican in form.' In comunicating [sic] the foregoing to your excellency, I desire to take advantage of the opportunity to express my sincere desire that there shall exist between the two countries the most cordial relation of amity and friendship. With the assurance your excellency of my most distinguished consideration.
Although Cardinal Maglione received the telegram, he told the Japanese ambassador to the Holy See, Ken Harada, that as long as the war continued, the Holy See would not recognize any new states, including the new Philippine Republic.[3] Harada acknowledged the Holy See's decision and did not pursue the matter further.[3] Later, Cardinal Maglione directed Msgr. Piani, through Msgr. Marella, to continue to pursue and protect the interests of the Catholic religion in the country. He added that the local bishops are permitted to deal with local ecclesiastical affairs as long as they are not diplomatic in character. However, they could, if necessary, appeal to the authorities on affairs that are purely ecclesiastical.[4]
The apostolic delegation helped clear up a misunderstanding that Msgr. Paul Taguchi, archbishop of Osaka, visited Manila not to supplant the authority of the archbishop of Manila, but to establish contacts with the Catholics of that city.[5]
Rumors were also spreading that Pope Pius XII had personally communicated a telegram to Laurel. Maglione clarified via a letter to the Apostolic Delegate in London that since the Holy See did not recognize any new states for the duration of the war, no such telegram was ever sent.[6]
Role in the hierarchy: vicariates
As an apostolic vicar, the nuncio also serves a role in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. An apostolic vicariate is a territorial jurisdiction established in areas which do not have a diocese and the nuncio serves as metropolitan to these vicariates.
In the Philippines, the apostolic vicariates are:
- Apostolic Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe
- Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo
- Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa
- Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose in Mindoro
- Apostolic Vicariate of Tabuk
- Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay
List of papal representatives to the Philippines
Apostolic delegates
In 1899 a papal legation with the rank of apostolic delegation in the Philippines was established. There have been seven apostolic delegates of the Philippines, until the Vatican promoted the papal legation in the Philippines to the status of apostolic nunciature on August 9, 1951.
| No. | Picture | Name | Born | Died | Term | Coat of arms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Placide Louis Chapelle | August 28, 1842 Fraissinet-de-Lozère, Lozère, France | August 09, 1905 New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | September 28, 1899 – April 30, 1901 | ||
| 2. | Donato Sbarretti | November 12, 1856 Montefranco, Italy | April 01, 1939 Rome, Italy | September 16, 1901 – December 26, 1902 | ||
| 3. | Giovanni Battista Guidi | April 26, 1852 Collepardo, Italy | July 22, 1904 Manila, Philippines | September 25, 1902 – June 22, 1904 | ||
| 4. | Ambrose Agius, O.S.B | September 17, 1856 Alexandria, Egypt | December 13, 1911 Manila, Philippines | September 05, 1904 – December 13, 1911 | ||
| 5. | Giuseppe Petrelli | February 14, 1873 Montegiorgio, Italy | April 29, 1962 Lima, Peru | May 30, 1915 – May 27, 1921 | ||
| 6. | Guglielmo Piani, S.D.B. | September 16, 1875 Martinengo, Italy | September 27, 1956 Mexico City, Mexico | March 17, 1922 – October 05, 1948 | ||
| 7. | Egidio Vagnozzi | February 26, 1906 Rome, Italy | December 26, 1980 Rome, Italy | March 09, 1949 – August 09, 1951 |
Apostolic nuncios
| No. | Picture | Name | Born | Died | Term | Coat of arms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7. | Egidio Vagnozzi | February 26, 1906 Rome, Italy | December 26, 1980 Rome, Italy | August 09, 1951 – December 16, 1958 | ||
| 8. | Salvatore Siino | October 05, 1904 Capaci, Italy | October 08, 1963 Rome, Italy | March 14, 1959 – October 08, 1963 | ||
| 9. | Carlo Martini | October 01, 1913 Cadeo, Italy | July 16, 1986 Piacenza, Italy | November 29, 1963 – August 05, 1967 | ||
| 10. | Carmine Rocco | April 12, 1912 Camigliano, Italy | May 12, 1982 Rome, Italy | September 16, 1967 – May 22, 1973 | ||
| 11. | Bruno Torpigliani | April 15, 1915 Asciano, Italy | May 02, 1990 Asciano, Italy | June 06, 1973 – April 10, 1990 | ||
| 12. | Gian Vincenzo Moreni | January 29, 1932 Montichiari, Italy | March 03, 1999 Montichiari, Italy | September 08, 1990 – March 03, 1999 | ||
| 13. | Antonio Franco | March 24, 1937 Puglianello, Italy | April 06, 1999 – January 21, 2006 | |||
| 14. | Fernando Filoni | April 15, 1946 Manduria, Italy | February 25, 2006 – June 09, 2007 | |||
| 15. | Edward Joseph Adams | August 24, 1944 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | September 03, 2007 – February 22, 2011 | |||
| 16. | Giuseppe Pinto | May 26, 1952 Noci, Italy | May 10, 2011 – July 01, 2017 | |||
| 17. | Gabriele Giordano Caccia | February 24, 1958 Milan, Italy | September 12, 2017 – November 16, 2019 | |||
| 18. | Charles John Brown | October 13, 1959 New York City, New York, United States | September 28, 2020 |
References
- 1."La Délégation du Japon à la Secrétairerie d'Etat, 4 November 1942. S.E./22 (A.E.S. 7391/42, orig.)". Actes et Documents du Saint Siège Relatifs à la Seconde Guerre Mondiale (PDF). Vol. 7. Rome: The Holy See. pp. 102–3.
- 2."Le président des Philippines Laurel au cardinal Maglione, Manila, 14 October 1943. Tél. nr. Io6 (A.E.S. 7349/43)". Actes et Documents du Saint Siège Relatifs à la Seconde Guerre Mondiale (PDF). Vol. 7. pp. 704–705.
- 3.[3.2]"Notes du cardinal Maglione. Vatican, 22 October 1943. (A.E.S. 7349/43, orig. autogr.)". Actes et Documents du Saint Siège Relatifs à la Seconde Guerre Mondiale (PDF). Vol. 7. p. 712.
- 4."Le cardinal Maglione au délégué apostolique A. Tokyo Marella. Vatican, 25 October 1943. Tél. nr. 305 (A.E.S. 7349/43)". Actes et Documents du Saint Siège Relatifs à la Seconde Guerre Mondiale (PDF). Vol. 7. p. 714.
- 5."Le clélégué apostolique à Manila Piani au clélégué à Tokyo Marella. Manila, 9 November 1942. Sans nr. (A.S.S. 63794, orig.)". Actes et Documents du Saint Siège Relatifs à la Seconde Guerre Mondiale (PDF). Vol. 8. pp. 746–747.
- 6."Le cardinal Maglione au délégué apostolique à Londres Godfrey. Vatican, 14 January 1944. Tél. nr. 501 (A.E.S. 754144)". Actes et Documents du Saint Siège Relatifs à la Seconde Guerre Mondiale (PDF). Vol. 11. pp. 102, 123.