Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
01VATICAN6433 | 2001-12-12 14:03:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Vatican |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. |
UNCLAS VATICAN 006433 |
1. THE POPE HAS APPOINTED ITALIAN-BORN VATICAN OFFICIAL, MONSIGNOR CLAUDIO GUGEROTTI, AS NUNCIO (AMBASSADOR) IN ARMENIA AND GEORGIA. GUGEROTTI IS CURRENTLY UNDER-SECRETARY UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 VATICA 06433 121437Z (NUMBER THREE) AT THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR THE EASTERN CHURCHES. HE WAS BORN IN VERONA, ITALY IN 1955 AND ORDAINED A PRIEST IN 1982. MONSIGNOR GUGEROTTI HOLDS A DOCTORAL DEGREE IN ORIENTAL LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE AND A MASTERS DEGREE IN LITURGY. HE HAS TAUGHT PATRISTICS, THEOLOGY AND EASTERN RITE LITURGY AT UNIVERSITY LEVEL. GUGEROTTI ENTERED THE VATICAN'S CIVIL SERVICE IN 1985, WORKING EXCLUSIVELY SINCE THEN FOR THE CONGREGATION FOR THE EASTERN CHURCH. HE BECAME UNDER-SECRETARY IN 1997. AS WELL AS HIS NATIVE ITALIAN, GUGEROTTI SPEAKS FRENCH, ENGLISH, LATIN, GREEK, CLASSICAL AND MODERN ARMENIAN, AND KURDISH. MONSIGNOR GUGEROTTI WILL BE ORDAINED AN ARCHBISHOP PRIOR TO TAKING UP HIS APPOINTMENT. 2. COMMENT: GUGEROTTI IS A RISING STAR IN THE VATICAN CIVIL SERVICE. HE IS A PROTQGQ OF THE FORMER PREFECT OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE EASTERN CHURCHES, CARDINAL ACHILLE SILVESTRINI. GUGEROTTI IS URBANE AND EXTREMELY INTELLIGENT, SPEAKING HIS ENGLISH WITH A MARKED BRITISH ACCENT. HE HAS TRAVELED OFTEN TO EASTERN EUROPE AND THE NEAR EAST IN THE SERVICE OF THE VATICAN AND IS A WELL-KNOWN FIGURE IN ARMENIAN AND GEORGIAN CHURCH CIRCLES, BOTH CATHOLIC AND ORTHODOX. IT IS UNUSUAL FOR A NON-CAREER VATICAN DIPLOMAT TO BE APPOINTED AS NUNCIO IN SUCH A STRATEGIC GEOGRAPHICAL AREA. GUGEROTTI AT 46 IS ALSO VERY YOUNG, ANOTHER TESTIMONY TO THE ESTEEM IN WHICH BOTH THE POPE AND SENIOR VATICAN OFFICIALS HOLD HIM. WITH THE CONSTANTLY EXPRESSED VATICAN HOPE FOR UNITY BETWEEN ROME AND THE ORTHODOX CHURCHES, GUGEROTTI'S APPOINTMENT AS AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA IN PARTICULAR AUGURS WELL FOR BRIGHTER, IF NOT POSITIVELY EFFERVESCENT ECUMENICAL RELATIONS WITH THE CONSEQUENT UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 VATICA 06433 121437Z ECCLESIASTICAL AND GEOPOLITICAL IMPLICATIONS. WATCH THIS SPACE. END COMMENT. NICHOLSON UNCLASSIFIED > 2001VATICA06433 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED |