New Permanent Observer of the Holy See Presents Letter of Nomination to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva

Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, Apostolic Nuncio, the new Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations Office at Geneva, today presented his letter of nomination to Tatiana Valovaya, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva.

Prior to his appointment to Geneva, Archbishop Balestrero had been serving as Apostolic Nuncio to the Democratic Republic of the Congo since April 2019, after serving as Head of Mission of the Holy See at the Apostolic Nunciature there from July 2018 to April 2019.  He held the position of Apostolic Nuncio to Colombia from February 2013 to July 2018.  He served as Under-Secretary for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See from August 2009 to February 2013.

Archbishop Balestrero has also held various other positions in the diplomatic service of the Holy See, including in the Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See (2001-2009), and in the Pontifical Representations in the Netherlands (1998-2001) and in the Republic of Korea and Mongolia (1996-1998).

Born in Genoa, Italy, on 21 December 1966, Archbishop Balestrero was ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Rome on 18 September 1993.  He possesses a Licentiate Degree in Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law.

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CR23.023E