Nunciature to the United States

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The flag of Vatican City and the Holy See flies above the Nunciature to the United States.
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The flag of Vatican City and the Holy See flies above the Nunciature to the United States.
Francesco Cardinal Satolli (right) meets with Joseph Jessing (left) to discuss the establishment of a new college seminary. Satolli was the first Apostolic Delegate to the United States.
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Francesco Cardinal Satolli (right) meets with Joseph Jessing (left) to discuss the establishment of a new college seminary. Satolli was the first Apostolic Delegate to the United States.
Image:Agostinocacciavillan.jpg
Agostino Cardinal Cacciavillan was the last Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the United States.
Gabriel Montalvo Higuera was appointed by Pope John Paul II as the first Apostolic Nuncio to the United States with the rank of ambassador.
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Gabriel Montalvo Higuera was appointed by Pope John Paul II as the first Apostolic Nuncio to the United States with the rank of ambassador.

The Nunciature to the United States — formally the Nunciature to the United States of America and informally the Apostolic Nunciature — is an ecclesiastical and episcopal office of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It is a diplomatic post of Vatican City and the Holy See, whose representative is called the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States with the rank of ambassador. The nuncio is consecrated archbishop and after his period of service as Nuncio has ended historically has been elevated to the rank of Cardinal in consistory.

The Apostolic Nunciature is the central office of governance of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States, overseeing all the dioceses of the United States.

The physical building which houses the offices of the apostolic nuncio and his staff is also called the Nunciature to the United States of America. Its official name is the Embassy of the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See. Located at 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008, it is considered an informal diocese of its own.

Contents

History

The nunciature was established as the Delegation to the United States of America on January 24, 1893 with offices in the City of Washington in the District of Columbia led by an apostolic delegate. It was the result of an effort by Vatican City and the Holy See to establish communication between the Pope and the President of the United States. Formal relations however was not established until January 10, 1984 when the delegation was elevated to the rank of nunciature. The establishment of an embassy in the City of Washington was the result of an increased friendship of Pope John Paul II and President Ronald Reagan.

Staff

The staff of the nunciature includes the permanent and alternative observer to the Organization of American States.

Apostolic Delegate

Vatican City and the Holy See did not have official ties with the United States and its mission consisted of mere apostolic delegates without the rank of ambassador. There were instances in which two official delegates served at the same time.

  1. Francesco Cardinal Satolli, January 14, 1893 to 1896
  2. Sebastiano Cardinal Martinelli, OSA, April 18, 1896 to 1902
  3. Diomede Angelo Raffaele Gennaro Cardinal Falconio, OFM, September 30, 1902 to 1911
  4. Giovanni Vincenzo Cardinal Bonzano, February 2, 1912 to 1922
  5. Pietro Fumasoni Cardinal Biondi, December 14, 1922 to March 16, 1933
  6. Amleto Giovanni Cardinal Cicognani, March 17, 1933 to November 14, 1959
  7. Egidio Cardinal Vagnozzi, December 16, 1958 to January 13, 1968
  8. Luigi Cardinal Raimondi, June 30, 1967 to March 21, 1973
  9. Jean Jadot, May 23, 1973 to June 27, 1980
  10. Pio Cardinal Laghi, December 10, 1980 to January 9, 1984

Apostolic Pro-Nuncio

The Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the United States did not enjoy the full rank of ambassador.

  1. Pío Cardinal Laghi, January 10, 1984 to April 6, 1990
  2. Agostino Cardinal Cacciavillan, June 13, 1990 to November 5, 1998

Apostolic Nuncio

President Bill Clinton accepted the credentials of the first Apostolic Nuncio to the United States enjoying the full rank and privileges of ambassador.

  1. Gabriel Montalvo Higuera, December 7, 1998 to Present

See also

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