Antonio Franco (diplomat)

Antonio Franco (born Puglianello, Italy, 24 March 1937) is a Vatican diplomat.

The Most Reverend Antonio Franco
Titular Archbishop of Gallesium
Church	Roman Catholic Church
Other posts	Assessor of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre Apostolic Nuncio Emeritus of Israel
Orders
Ordination	10 July 1960
Consecration	26 April 1992 by Pope John Paul II
Personal details
Born	(1937-03-24) 24 March 1937 Puglianello, Benevento, Italy
Previous post	Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine (1992-1999) Apostolic Administrator of Zakarpattia in Ukraine (1993-1997) Apostolic Nuncio to Philippines (1999-2006) Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and Cyprus (2006-2012) Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine (2006-2012)

Styles of Antonio Franco
Reference style	The Most Reverend
Spoken style	His Excellency
Religious style	Archbishop

Biography

He was born in Puglianello, Italy, on 24 March 1937. He was ordained a priest of Telese o Cerreto Sannita on 10 July 1960. To prepare for a diplomatic career he entered the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in 1968.[1]

He held various posts in diplomatic missions of the Holy See in Iran, France, Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York and the Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State.[2][3]

He was appointed titular archbishop of Gallesium and Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine on 28 March 1992.[4] He received his episcopal consecration from Pope John Paul II on 26 April.[5] From 1993 to 1997, while Nuncio to Ukraine, he also served there as head of the new Apostolic Administration of Zakarpattia of Latini (later the Diocese of Mukacheve).

On 6 April 1999 he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines.[6]

On 21 January 2006, Pope John Paul II appointed him Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and Cyprus as well as Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine,[7] In April 2007, Franco threatened to boycott a Holocaust memorial ceremony at Yad Vashem because of the way the museum described Pope Pius XII's behavior toward the Jews during World War II. Franco relented saying he only meant to draw attention to the question and calling the dispute "only diplomacy".[8] The museum’s plaque describing Pope Pius' activities was later modified.[9] Franco also helped manage Pope Benedict’s visit to the Holy Land in May 2008, and he fostered discussions between religious communities and the Holy See and the regions’ governments.[9]

Franco retired from the diplomatic service in August 2012 but remained responsible for the dossier for negotiations between the Holy See and Israel regarding fiscal concerns, taxes and Church lands in Israel.[9]

On 22 February 2013, he succeeded Archbishop Giuseppe De Andrea as the Assessor of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre.[10]

As late as 2017, he continued to serve as a member of the Holy See's delegation to the Bilateral Permanent Working Commission between the Holy See and the State of Israel.[11]

References

1. "Pontificia Accademia Ecclesiastica, Ex-alunni 1950 – 1999" (in Italian). Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
2. "new nuncio stresses christian forgiveness value of life fundamental rights - ucanews.com". ucanews.com. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
3. www.gubbernet.com, Gubbernet s.r.l. - Soluzioni per internet avvincente -. "30Giorni". www.30giorni.it (in Italian). Retrieved 17 May 2017.
4. Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF). LXXXIV. 1992. p. 412. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
5. "Santa Messa per L'Ordinazione di Sette Nuovi Vescovi" (in Italian). Libreria Editrice Vaticana. 26 April 1992. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
6. "thankful for best gift outgoing nuncio bids philippine church farewell - ucanews.com". ucanews.com. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
7. "Rinunce e Nomine, 21.01.2006" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 21 January 2006. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
8. "Vatican agrees to attend Holocaust memorial service". Ynet. 15 April 2007. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
9. "Archbishop Franco's mandate in the service of the Church of the Holy Land". Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. 12 November 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
10. "Archbishop Antonio Franco new Assessor of the Order" (PDF). Newsletter of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. XXX: 4. March 2013.
11. "Holy See-Israel Commission continues work". Vatican Radio. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2020.

Diplomatic posts
New title	Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine 1992 - 1999	Succeeded by Nikola Eterović
Preceded by Pietro Sambi	Apostolic Nuncio to Israel 2006 – 2012	Succeeded by Giuseppe Lazzarotto
Preceded by Gian Vincenzo Moreni	Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines 25 February 2006 – 9 June 2007	Succeeded by Fernando Filoni
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Giuseppe De Andrea	Assessor of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre 2013–present	Incumbent