By Emilie Ng
BRISBANE Filipinos were proud to learn that Australia’s newly appointed papal nuncio hailed from their motherland.
Philippines-born priest Fr Marce Singson was “so happy” to hear fellow Filipino Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana was appointed Australia’s papal nuncio.
Despite knowing little about the new nuncio, Fr Singson said the recent appointment of Naga City-born Archbishop Yllana as Australia’s representative of the Holy See was an honour for Australian Filipinos.
“I am so happy to hear that a Filipino stands as papal nuncio in Australia,” he said. “It is a big lift to the Filipinos in Australia.”
Archbishop Yllana was born in the southern region of the Philippines on February 6, 1948, and was ordained a priest in 1972.
He has a doctorate in civil and canon law and completed post-graduate studies in international diplomacy at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in Rome.
Archbishop Yllana has previously been apostolic nuncio to Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Pakistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Archbishop Yllana succeeds Archbishop Paul Gallagher as Australia’s papal nuncio.
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president Archbishop Denis Hart said Archbishop Yllana’s appointment “is indication of the Holy Father’s love and concern for us all”.
“Archbishop Yllana brings wide and diverse experience, great faith and priestly gifts,” Archbishop Hart said.
“We assure him of a warm and enthusiastic welcome upon his arrival and service here in Australia.”
Archbishop Yllana’s commencement as Australia’s papal nuncio has not been confirmed.
An apostolic nuncio is a permanent diplomatic representative of the Holy See to a state.
