Krebs was born in Essen, Germany, in 1956. He was ordained priest in 1983 and Bishop in 2008. He joined the Vatican's diplomatic corps in 1991. He has been described as "possessed of what's been called a 'precise serenity.'" As well as his mother tongue he speaks five languages, English, Spanish, French, Italian and Czech.

He represented the Holy See at its diplomatic missions in Burundi, Japan, Austria, the Czech Republic, and to the European Community. In 2006 he was appointed to Washington as Archbishop Pietro Sambi's #2.

Krebs' most recent appointment was as apostolic nuncio to Guinea and Mali.

He replaces Archbishop Charles Balvo who has been appointed apostolic nuncio to Kenya.

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The Vatican representative would normally have been the Apostolic Nuncio but Fiji does not presently have an Apostolic Nuncio.

The last Apostolic Nuncio to New Zealand and the Pacific, Archbishop Charles Balvo, who was based in New Zealand, finished his term earlier this month and has been appointed to a new role as the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya. The newly appointed Nuncio, Archbishop Martin Krebs, has not yet arrived.

Protocol requires that the new Nuncio would first have to present his credentials to the President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, before performing any role in Fiji.

Peter Loy Chong's ordination will be broadcast live throughout Fiji and the Pacific.

Source

• The Fiji Times
• The Fiji Times
• Image: Facebook

The Apostolic Nuncio to New Zealand, Archbishop Charles Balvo, presented Fr Bill Leeming with a Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal at a ceremony at the Marist Centre in Thorndon where Bill lives.

The Pro Eccllesia et Pontifice medal is also know as the "Cross of Honour" and is given for distinguished service to the Church by lay people and clergy.

Archbishop Balvo said that Bill had served four Nuncios and innumerable secretaries during his years at the Nunciature. He thought it was only fitting that some one who had prepared so many applications for Papal Blessings should himself be recognised with an award.

He said that since Bill retired it's been a case of sharing Bill's workload around and following his well practiced and methodical procedures, but he hoped to find a successor soon.

The Nuncio said he enjoyed working with Bill, and that he did a great many things to help the outreach of the Apostolic Delegation in New Zealand, and he did them with love.

Bill began work at the Nunciature in 1994, after a long career in secondary school teaching. He retired earlier this year.

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Source

• www.smnz.org.nz