Pope Francis had appointed His Excellency Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía as Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain.

Bishop Hugh Gilbert, The President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, said: “I offer a warm welcome to Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía on behalf of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland and look forward to welcoming him to Scotland in due course.

"I can assure him of the promise of our prayers as he takes up his important post.”

The Apostolic Nuncio represents the Holy Father to the Church in the UK.

His role is equivalent to that of an ambassador, representing the Holy See to the UK Government.

Background

Archbishop Buendía was previously Apostolic Nuncio to Romania in 2015, and to the Republic of Moldova in 2016, prior to which he was Apostolic Nuncio to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistanfrom 2008.

He entered the Holy See’s diplomatic service in July 1987, serving in diplomatic missions in several countries such as Rwanda, Uganda, Morocco, Nicaragua, Egypt, Slovenia and Ireland.

Archbishop Buendía was born in Madrid and studied philosophy and theology at the Conciliar Seminary of Madrid before being ordained a priest for the Archdiocese on 26 June 1980.

He succeeds Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, who was named prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches.

Main image: Pope Francis meeting Archbishop Buendía in March 2023. © Vatican Media.