Paul Fitzpatrick Russell

Paul Fitzpatrick Russell (born May 2, 1959) is a U.S.-born prelate of the Catholic Church who has held positions in the diplomatic service of the Holy See since 1997. He is Apostolic Nuncio to Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan. He headed the Holy See's diplomatic mission to China from 2008 to 2016. He was made an archbishop in 2016.

Paul Fitzpatrick Russell
Apostolic Nuncio to Turkey
AppointedMarch 19, 2016
PredecessorAntonio Lucibello
Orders
OrdinationJune 20, 1987
by Cardinal Bernard Law
ConsecrationJune 3, 2016
by Cardinal Sean O'Malley
Personal details
Born (1959-05-02) May 2, 1959
NationalityAmerican
DenominationCatholic
Previous postChargé d’affaires, Apostolic Nunciature to China (2008–2016)
Alma materPontifical Gregorian University

Biography

Russell was born in Greenfield, Massachusetts. He moved with his mother and siblings to Alpena, Michigan, graduated from Alpena High School in 1977, and then spent a year studying in France. He studied at Saint John's Seminary in Boston, Massachusetts, interrupted by a year in Bolivia to become fluent in Spanish. On June 20, 1987, Russell was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Boston by Cardinal Bernard Law. After five years as a parish priest he was briefly the Cardinal's secretary.[1]

Beginning in 1993 he studied at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy where he earned his licentiate in canon law and then at the Pontifical Gregorian University for his doctorate in canon law.[1] He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on July 1, 1997,[2] serving briefly in Rome before spending three years at the Apostolic Nunciature to Ethiopia, where he also taught at the national seminary. Assignments in Turkey, Switzerland, and Nigeria followed. On May 2, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI named him chargé d'affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature to China, that is, to Taiwan, the Republic of China, which made him the head of that diplomatic mission.[1][lower-alpha 1]

Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Nuncio to Turkey and Turkmenistan on March 19, 2016.[4][2] On June 3, 2016, Russell was consecrated titular archbishop of Novi by Cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley, with co-consecrators Allen Vigneron, Archbishop of Detroit, and Leo Cushley, Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh.[1] The post of Nuncio to Azerbaijan was added to his responsibilities on April 7, 2018.[5][6]

Russell has a particular devotion to Blessed Michał Piaszczyński, his mother's cousin.[1]

He is fluent in French, Italian, Spanish, and German.[2]

Notes
  1. The Nunciature to China is located in Taipei, and the Holy See maintains full diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but no nuncio has been named to head that mission since 1971 as the Holy See negotiates its relationship with the People's Republic of China. There is nevertheless extensive diplomatic activity between the Holy See and Taiwan.[3]

References
  1. Tracy, Donis (10 June 2016). "Archbishop Paul Russell-Boston priest and Vatican diplomat". Boston Pilot. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  2. "Rinunce e nomine, 19.03.2016" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. March 19, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  3. "President Ma meets Chargé d'Affaires a.i. Monsignor Paul Fitzpatrick Russell of the Apostolic Nunciature to the ROC". Office of the President of the Republic of China. April 7, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  4. "Massachusetts Native to Represent Pope in Turkey and Turkmenistan". Zenit. March 21, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  5. "Archbishop Russell gets additional post". Boston Pilot. April 20, 2018. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  6. "Rinunce e nomine, 07.04.2018" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. April 7, 2018. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
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