Apostolic Nunciature to South Korea explained

Apostolic Nunciature to Korea
Address:	Gungjeong-dong, Jongno-gu

The Apostolic Nunciature to Korea (Latin: Nuntiatura Apostolica in Corea, Korean: 주한 교황청 대사관) is an ecclesiastical office of the Catholic Church in South Korea. It is a diplomatic post of the Holy See, whose representative is called the Apostolic Nuncio with the rank of an ambassador. The nuncio resides in Seoul.

The Holy See consistently refers to Korea when making appointments, never South Korea or North Korea. The Holy See has no relationship with the government of North Korea; in 2018, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's invitation to Pope Francis to visit North Korea was relayed through South Korean President Moon Jae-in.^[1]

The Internunciature to Korea was created on 11 December 1963.^[2] and made the Nunciature to Korea on 5 September 1966.^[3]

The Apostolic Nuncio to South Korea is usually also the Apostolic Nuncio to Mongolia upon his appointment to said nation.

List of papal representatives to Korea

Apostolic Delegates

• Patrick James Byrne (7 April 1949^[4] – 25 November 1950)^[5]
• Egano Righi-Lambertini (28 December 1957 – 9 July 1960)
• Saverio Zupi (26 October 1960 – 31 January 1962)
• Antonio del Giudice (18 April 1962 – 19 August 1967)

Apostolic Pro-Nuncios

• Ippolito Rotoli (2 September 1967 – 15 November 1972)
• Luigi Dossena (27 February 1973^[6] – 24 October 1978)^[7]
• Luciano Angeloni (25 November 1978^[8] – 23 August 1981)
• Francesco Monterisi (24 December 1981 – 19 June 1986)

Apostolic Nuncios

• Ivan Dias (20 June 1986 – 28 October 1991)
• John Bulaitis (30 November 1991^[9] – 25 March 1997)^[10]
• Giovanni Battista Morandini (23 April 1997^[11] – 6 March 2004)^[12]
• Emil Paul Tscherrig (22 May 2004^[13] – 26 January 2008)^[14]
• Osvaldo Padilla (12 April 2008^[15] – 15 September 2017)^[16]
• Alfred Xuereb (26 February 2018^[17] – 8 December 2023)^[18]
• Giovanni Gaspari (2 March 2024^[19] – present)

See also

• Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea
• Catholic Church in North Korea
• Catholic Church in South Korea

Notes and References

1. News: 27 November 2019 . 9 October 2018 . Kim Jong Un invites Pope Francis to North Korea . The Tablet . Rose . Gamble .
2. Book: November 27, 2019 . 235 . Acta Apostolicae Sedis . 1964 . LVI .
3. Book: November 27, 2019 . 875 . Acta Apostolicae Sedis . 1966 . LVIII .
4. Book: November 27, 2019 . 463 . Acta Apostolicae Sedis . 1949 . XXXXI .
5. Book: Kang, Wi Jo . 27 November 2019 . Christ and Caesar in Modern Korea: A History of Christianity and Politics . 159 . SUNY Press . 9781438408323 .
6. Book: 158, 174 . 1 December 2019. Acta Apostolicae Sedis . 1973. LXV.
7. Book: 1000 . 26 January 2020. Acta Apostolicae Sedis . 1978 . LXX .
8. Book: November 27, 2019 . 1001 . Acta Apostolicae Sedis . 1978 . LXX .
9. Book: 27 November 2019 . Acta Apostolicae Sedis . 1095 . 1991 . LXXXIII .
10. Book: 27 November 2019 . Acta Apostolicae Sedis . 262 . 1997 . LXXXIX .
11. Book: 27 November 2019 . Acta Apostolicae Sedis . 312 . 1997 . LXXXIX .
12. . 2 May 2019 . 6 March 2004 . it. Rinunce e Nomine, 06.03.2004.
13. Holy See Press Office . 3 May 2019 . 22 May 2004 . Rinunce e Nomine, 22.05.2004.
14. Holy See Press Office . 3 May 2019 . 26 January 2008 . Rinunce e Nomine, 26.01.2008.
15. Rinunce e Nomine, 12.04.2008 . 6 May 2019 . 12 April 2008. it . Holy See Press Office .
16. News: 6 May 2019 . 15 September 2017. Filipino apostolic nuncio bids farewell to South Korea. UCA News .
17. 6 May 2019 . it. Rinunce e nomine, 26.02.2018 . 26 February 2018 . Holy See Press Office .
18. News: Rinunce e nomine, 08.12.2023 . December 8, 2023.
19. News: Rinunce e nomine, 02.03.2024 . March 2, 2024.