Permanent Observer of the Holy See to UNESCO explained

The Permanent Observer of Holy See to UNESCO is the representative of the Holy See to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which is based in Paris. The Church also has representatives at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York and at the headquarters of a number of its other international bodies in Geneva and Nairobi.

The first to hold the position was Angelo Roncalli, who was also the Nuncio to France and a titular archbishop. Only one of his successors, Paolo Bertoli, has held those titles while serving as Permanent Observer. His immediate successor was typical of most: a priest who only became nuncio and archbishop when given his next assignment as Apostolic Nuncio to Costa Rica.

List of permanent observers

• Angelo Roncalli (9 June 1952^{[1] [2]} – 12 January 1953)
• Giuseppe Sensi (16 May 1953^[3] – 21 May 1955)^[4]
• unknown
• Angelo Pedroni (4 November 1960^{[5] [6]} – 7 April 1965)
• Giovanni Benelli (1964 – 1966)^{[7] [8]}
• unknown
• Luigi Conti (9 August 1971^{[9] [10]} – 5 August 1975)^{[10] [11]}
• Lorenzo Frana (13 August 1975^[12] – 11 May 2002)^{[13] [14]}
• Francesco Follo (11 May 2002^[15] – 11 November 2021)^[16]
• Eric Soviguidi (11 November 2021^[16] - present)

See also

• Foreign relations of the Holy See
• List of diplomatic missions of the Holy See

Notes and References

1. Book: Melnyk, Roman A. . 26 . 2009 . Vatican Diplomacy at the United Nations: A History of Catholic Global Engagement . Edwin Mellon Press .
2. Web site: Address of John Paul II to the International Catholic Center for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) . 10 May 2002 . 20 August 2019 . Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
3. Book: 25 November 2019 . Acta Apostolicae Sedis . 655 . 1953. XXXXV .
4. Book: 25 November 2019 . Acta Apostolicae Sedis . 475 . 1955. XXXXVII .
5. Book: Acta Apostolicae Sedis . 19 January 2020 . 1960. LII . 932.
6. Book: Blanco Segura, Ricardo . 20 August 2019 . Obispos, arzobispos y representantes de la Santa Sede en Costa Rica . 150 . es. 1984 . EUNED . 9789977640792.
7. Book: Lentz III, Harris M. . 21 . Popes and Cardinals of the 20th Century: A Biographical Dictionary . 2015 . McFarland . 9781476621555 .
8. Book: 161 . Journet Maritain Correspondance: 1965-1973 . 1996 . Editions Saint-Augustin . 9782880114145.
9. Book: 19 January 2020 . Acta Apostolicae Sedis . 1971 . LXIII . 719 .
10. News: Le Monde . 20 August 2019 . Religion . 8 August 1975 . fr .
11. Book: 19 January 2020 . Acta Apostolicae Sedis . 1975 . LXVII . 507 .
12. Book: 19 January 2020 . Acta Apostolicae Sedis . 1975 . LXVII . 507 .
13. Web site: L'UNESCO tel "l'Aréopage du monde" en vue de la paix: Mgr Lorenzo Frana à la 31e session de la Conférence Générale de l'UNESCO . fr . 19 October 2001 . Les Amis du Saint Siège auprès de l'UNESCO . Au cours des 26 ans passés comme Observateur permanent du Saint-Siège auprès de l’UNESCO .
14. News: Eco di Bergamo . 20 August 2019 . it . Gandino in lutto, addio a monsignor Frana . Gandino.it . 8 November 2005.
15. it . Rinunce e Nomine, 11.05.2002 . 11 May 2002 . Holy See Press Office .
16. it . Rinunce e Nomine, 11.30.2021 . 11 November 2021 . 4 December 2021 . Holy See Press Office.