The Vatican’s new prefect for the Dicastery for Eastern churches is expected to play a pivotal role in the Holy See’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
Yesterday Pope Francis appointed U.K. nuncio, Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, as prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches.
Born in Verona, northern Italy, in 1955 and ordained a priest in 1982, Archbishop Gugerotti was the papal representative to Ukraine for five years before his appointment as the apostolic nuncio to Great Britain in 2020.
Archbishop Gugerotti studied Eastern Languages and Sacred Liturgy and was a professor of Patristics, Eastern Liturgy at the Institute of Ecumenical Studies in Verona from 1981 to 1985.
He has also taught at the Pontifical Oriental Institute and reportedly speaks Armenian, Kurdish, English, and French, alongside his native Italian. He also knows Latin, classical Greek and classical Armenian.
He was first appointed as an official to what was then called the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, in 1985. Twelve years later, in 1997, he became its Undersecretary.
His Excellency Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, 67, succeeds Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, 79, as prefect.
Sandri, an Argentine, is among a small number of Bishops who have served the Vatican beyond the retirement age of 75. He will remain in the post until mid-January when Gugerotti, an Italian, will start his tenure.
Areas of Catholic Herald business are still recovering post-pandemic.
However, we are reaching out to the Catholic community and readership, that has been so loyal to the Catholic Herald. Please join us on our 135 year mission by supporting us.
We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching.
We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values. Please consider donating.