Canada's Nuncio appointed to France

Here's a link to a story I did on the Nuncio's appointment to Paris. What a gift he has been to Canada.

OTTAWA - Pope Benedict has appointed his man in Canada, Archbishop Luigi Ventura, to serve as apostolic nuncio to France.

Ventura, 65, has served as the nuncio to Canada - the Holy See's ambassador - since 2001. He arrived the day before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"It's sad news for us because he has been serving our country very well as representative of the holy father," said Cardinal Marc Ouellet.

"He was close to the people, he was very knowledgeable about the situation of the Church.

"He had travelled the whole country," Ouellet said. "He had a very good relationship to the bishops in general and also to the faithful. We will miss him.

"So I'm happy for France, who will have a nuncio who is a man of experience and very faithful to the holy father," the cardinal said. "I wish (him) many good years in France."

France is considered the "eldest daughter" of the Church, and the role of nuncio in Paris ranks among the most esteemed in the Holy See's diplomatic service.

Previous nuncios there have been made cardinals. One previous nuncio, Archbishop Angelo Roncalli, served in Paris during the Second World War and eventually became Pope John XXIII.

Salt and Light TV CEO Father Thomas Rosica, who worked closely with Ventura when he was CEO of 2002 World Youth Day in Toronto, said Ventura will be "at the centre of Europe.

"Paris plays an extremely important role," he said in an interview. "So he's really one of the key people in the diplomatic corps."

Catholic blogger Rocco Palmo reported on his popular Whispers in the Loggia site that Ventura's Sept. 22 appointment is a sign that the pope "wants to give the French hierarchy an extreme makeover."