The new nuncio

Since the departure in December by Archbishop James Green, the former apostolic nuncio to the Southern African region, local Catholics have awaited the announcement of the identity of Archbishop Green’s successor. Finally, we know his identity.

The nuncio is the Vatican’s ambassador to the nation or nations of his posting, representing the concerns, interests and priorities of the Holy See. Ecclesiastically, the nuncio represents the pope and the Vatican in the affairs of the local Church, with the nomination of new bishops a particularly important responsibility.

Naturally, there has been some anticipation concerning the new nuncio’s nationality, his history and his approach. In the 68-year-old Italian Archbishop Mario Cassari, the pope has appointed a man who is familiar with South Africa, and who is remembered with fondness by those who had dealings with him when he served as secretary to two nuncios from 1985-89.

Indeed, many of those will recall with respect and admiration a momentous address he delivered to the assembled bishops of Southern Africa in a plenary session in 1988. At the time Southern Africa was between nuncios. The retired nuncio, Belgian Archbishop Joseph Mees, had disappointed many friends in the episcopate when he admonished the bishops to keep out of the struggle against apartheid, as Paddy Kearney recalled in his biography of Archbishop Denis Hurley, Guardian of the Light.

Doubtless conscious of this, Mgr Cassari, speaking on behalf of the pope, told the bishops: “You, more than others, know your people, you live among them, you share their anxieties and their sorrows as a result of everyday conditions. For all this you must shout even from the rooftops—in the name of God—that the time has come that South Africa really becomes a New South Africa.”

And it is to the new South Africa which he so eloquently pleaded for that Archbishop Cassari will come, more than two decades later.

In Archbishop Cassari, Southern Africa receives a nuncio with wide experience in Africa. He has served as nuncio to Congo and Gabon, and then to the Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Niger. Before that, he also worked in the nunciature in Sudan, an experience which will surely aid in the great efforts by the Southern African Church in fostering democracy in South Sudan.

Archbishop Cassari succeeds a popular nuncio. Archbishop Green made many friends in Southern Africa on the strength of his efficiency, gregariousness, approachability and good humour. Local Catholics now will have to allow Archbishop Cassari to bring his own personality to the nuniciature.

Archbishop Green has left the local Church in a fine shape. More than half of the current episcopate was appointed during his tenure, and he helped steer the bishops’ implementation of the new Roman missal, a process that was not without hitches.

Archbishop Cassari inherits a nunciature that needs to fill only three vacant dioceses—Kokstad, Polokwane and Port Elizabeth. Presumably some or all of the processes in doing so are already underway. Only two local bishops are required to submit their resignation, required upon reaching the age of 75, within the next five years, so barring illness, death or other unexpected circumstances, the current episcopate will require no new ordinaries.

When Archbishop Cassari asks the local Church what their hopes of his tenure are, many may well raise the question of auxiliary bishops. While some of our bigger dioceses can draw on the help from retired bishops living in their region, the need for auxiliaries in Johannesburg and Cape Town especially might be a subject of fruitful discussion.

It is difficult to predict what sort of diplomatic issues the new nuncio will be facing, but as the discontent of the people in Swaziland grows, his engagement on behalf of the Catholic Church might become necessary.

Southern African Catholics will welcome Archbishop Cassari with great joy and warmth. We congratulate Archbishop Cassari on his appointment and wish him God’s blessings as he prepares to take on the significant task of representing the pope and the Holy See in our region, in the service of Our Lord and his Church.