Print friendly
New Zealand’s Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa, has returned to Rome.
The archbishop left the country on Saturday and has arrived safely after a “smooth” journey, the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference says.
Rugambwa (pictured) is recovering from a stroke he suffered in Wellington last October. He will continue his rehabilitation at a Catholic facility in Rome.
Accompanying the archbishop was Sr Maria Ann Singer LSP and Fr Giosuè Busti, First Secretary-Deputy Head of Mission at the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See (papal embassy).
On Saturday, Bishop of Auckland Stephen Lowe, President of the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference, asked Catholics to keep Rugambwa in their prayers.
“It is with much sadness that we farewell Archbishop Novatus” Lowe says.
“The bishops acknowledge our deep gratitude for his services to the Church in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific.”
Rugambwa was appointed to his role as the Pope’s chief diplomatic representative in New Zealand in 2019.
During that time, he oversaw bishops’ appointments in five of the country’s six dioceses.
These were Bishop Steve Lowe in Auckland, Archbishop Paul Martin SM in Wellington, Bishop Michael Gielen in Christchurch, Bishop John Adams in Palmerston North and Bishop Richard Laurenson in Hamilton.
Source
Related Posts:
News category: New Zealand.
