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Apostolic Nuncio in Southern Africa Transferred, to Represent the Holy Father in Asia

Archbishop Peter Bryan Wells. Credit: SACBC
Jude Atemanke

By Jude Atemanke

Johannesburg, 09 February, 2023 / 8:40 pm (ACI Africa).

Pope Francis has transferred Archbishop Peter Bryan Wells who has been serving as Apostolic Nuncio in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa, to the Vatican Diplomatic Mission in Thailand and Cambodia. 

Archbishop Wells is also expected to serve as Apostolic Delegate in Laos.

The Papal transfer of Archbishop Wells was made public on Wednesday, February 8 and published by the Holy See Press Office.

The 59-year-old native of Tulsa Diocese in the United States who was ordained Priest in July 1991 entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in July 1999. 

He has previously served in the Apostolic Nunciature of Nigeria as well as in the Section for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State. 

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In July 2009, he was named assessor. Speaking about his work as assessor of general affairs, Archbishop Wells was quoted as saying  that the role of papal diplomacy was to allow the Holy Father and his representatives to "have the ability to act freely in the world and not be impeded in their ministry, especially in reaching out to the most marginalized.”

In 2013, Pope Francis named Archbishop Wells secretary of the five-member Pontifical Commission, responsible for investigating the Institute for the Works of Religion in 2013.

He also served as president of the Holy See's Financial Security Committee before his appointment as Apostolic Nuncio to Southern Africa in February 2016. 

Besides his native English, Archbishop Wells speaks Italian, French, German and Spanish.

Jude Atemanke

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.

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