Pope Appoints Spanish-Born Cleric as Nuncio in Sudan and Eritrea

The Church Leaders in Sudan and South Sudan also expressed gratitude to the Holy Father for this appointment saying, "The Catholic Bishops in Sudan, the Ordinaries members of Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference are grateful with deepest reverend to the successor of Saint Peter, Pope Francis for prayers and gracing Sudan and her neighbor Eritrea with his representative Apostolic Nuncio."

Archbishop-elect Cardaba was born in Toledo, Spain, in 1965 and ordained to the priesthood in 1992.

He graduated in theology, canon law and jurisprudence.

He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on April 1, 2001 and subsequently worked in the pontifical representations in Greece, Mexico, Belgium, Italy, Australia, France, and Turkey.

He is fluent in Spanish, Italian, French and English.

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Following the appointment, the Archbishop of Toledo, Francisco Cerro, thanked the Pope “for having chosen a member of our presbytery for this important exxlesial service, that of being his representative  before the particular Churches of Sudan and Eritrea and before the authorities of those states,” the media reported.

According to the media, Archbishop Cerro indicated that the appointment is historic as it is the first time a Priest from the Archdiocese will be carrying out such an important ecclesial task.

Therefore, the Local Ordinary of Tolerado urged the Church under his jurisdiction to “live it as another sign of the historical and profound communion that has always existed between this Primate See of Spain and the Successor of Saint Peter.”

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.