Honorific-Prefix: | His Excellency |
Petar Antun Rajič | |
Apostolic Nuncio to Italy and San Marino Titular Archbishop of Sarsenterum | |
Church: | Catholic Church |
Appointed: | 11 March 2024 |
Predecessor: | Emil Paul Tscherrig |
Other Post: | Titular Archbishop of Sarsenterum |
Ordination: | 29 June 1987 |
Consecration: | 23 January 2010 |
Consecrated By: | Tarcisio Bertone |
Birth Date: | 12 June 1959 |
Birth Place: | Toronto, Canada |
Religion: | Catholic |
Alma Mater: | University of Toronto Pontifical Lateran University |
Nationality: | Croatian/Canadian |
Coat Of Arms: | Coat of arms of Petar Rajič.svg |
Motto: | "Christus Dominus Nos Liberavit (For Freedom Christ Has Set Us Free)" |
Petar Rajič | |
Dipstyle: | |
Offstyle: | Your Excellency |
Relstyle: | Archbishop |
Petar Antun Rajič (born 12 June 1959) is a Croatian/Canadian prelate of the Catholic Church who has worked in the diplomatic service of the Holy See since 1993. He was named Apostolic Nuncio to Italy and San Marino on 11 March 2024.
Petar Antun Rajič was born in Toronto on 12 June 1959 to Catholic Liberan and Dominika Rajič, Croatian immigrants from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Canada. He is the eldest of three children.[1] He is fluent in English, Croatian, French, Italian and Portuguese.[1]
He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 1 July 1993 and fulfilled assignments in Iran and Lithuania as well as in the office of the Secretariat of State in Rome. On 2 December 2009, Pope Benedict XVI named him titular archbishop of Sarsenterum and Apostolic Nuncio to Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar along with Apostolic Delegate to the Arabian Peninsula.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on 23 January 2010 from Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.[1] On 27 March 2010 he was named nuncio to Yemen and the United Arab Emerates as well.[3]
On 15 June 2015, Pope Francis named him apostolic nuncio to Angola and São Tomé e Principe.[4]
On 15 June 2019 he was named apostolic nuncio to Lithuania,[5] adding the responsibilities of Estonia and Latvia on 6 August.[6]
On 11 March 2024 he was named apostolic nuncio to Italy and San Marino.[7]