Guyana’s new Apostolic Nuncio Holy See, Italian Archbishop Nicola Girasoli has pledged to do his best for the greater good of the country, when he presented his credentials to President Donald Ramotar at a brief swearing in ceremony hosted at the Office of the President on Monday.
Archbishop Girasoli, accompanied by President of the Bishop’s Conference, Bahamian Archbishop Patrick Pinder and Bishop Francis Alleyne of Georgetown told the president that the social doctrine of the Catholic Church is to promote solidarity and charity to the poor and vulnerable and service to the people regardless of religious persuasions.
Youth development is also a key to the body’s philosophy since, according to Girasoli, the next generation should coexist in an environment of mutual respect and the promotion of human rights, a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release reported.
The archbishop also extended greetings from Pope Benedict XVI and acknowledged that the relationship between the Holy See Vatican and the Guyana Government has been good over the years.
In response, Ramotar noted that he appreciates the Holy See’s advocacy on the international arena in the interest of the poor. “The catholic church has made and, is continuing to make very valuable contributions to the advancement of Guyana. I am confident that we can continue to draw on its spiritual moral and educational resources for guidance as we pursue policies aimed at economic and social development of our nation,” he said. The president said he looks forward to continued collaboration with the Vatican at the bilateral and multilateral levels in the interest of realising shared aspirations.
The accreditation ceremony was hosted one day after the commencement of the AGM of the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC) for bishops and archbishops of the Roman Catholic Church from English, French and Dutch-speaking Caribbean countries.
Archbishop Girasoli holds a doctorate in Canon Law was ordained a priest in June 1980 with incardination in the diocese of Ruvo di Puglia. He has been in the diplomatic service of the Holy See since 1985.
The archbishop’s tenure includes papal representation in Indonesia and Australia and in the General Affairs of the Secretariat of State in the Vatican. His first assignment as Head of Mission was in January 2006 at the Apostolic Nuncio in Zambia and in Malawi.
The archbishop is also versed in English, French and Spanish.
