USCCB - (Office of Media Relations) - Pope's Representative in U.S. for 8 Years Named to Vatican Post

Pope's Representative in U.S. for 8 Years Named to Vatican Post

WASHINGTON (November 4, 1998)--Archbishop Agostino Cacciavillan, Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the United States for the past eight years, has been named President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA).

The appointment, made by Pope John Paul II, was announced at the Vatican, Nov. 5.

"On behalf of the Catholic people of the United States, I congratulate Archbishop Cacciavillan and offer our best wishes on his new assignment," said Bishop Anthony M. Pilla of Cleveland, President of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference. "Archbishop Cacciavillan has represented the Holy Father to the Catholics of our country and to the nation with great love and affection," Bishop Pilla said. "His gentle manner and warmth have endeared him to the Bishops of our country and to all who have had the privilege of meeting him. Our prayers will be with him."

Archbishop Cacciavillan was born in Novale Di Valdagno in the Province of Vicenza, Italy, on August 14, 1926. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 26, 1949.

After obtaining a doctorate in Canon Law, he entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1959. He worked in the Secretariat of State, served for a time in the Philippines and in Spain, then returned to the Secretariat where he served from 1967 until 1976.

Named in 1976 by Pope Paul VI to be Apostolic Pro-Nuncio in Kenya, Archbishop Cacciavillan was also appointed titular archbishop of Amiterno. Pope John Paul II appointed him Pro-Nuncio in India in 1981. While in this post, he was also appointed Pro-Nuncio to Nepal in 1985.

Archbishop Cacciavillan was named both Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the United States and Permanent Observer to the Organization of American States on June 13, 1990.