January 23, 2006
Archbishop Antonio Franco has been officially appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as his new envoy to Israel. The Vatican announced on Saturday that Franco, currently papal nuncio (ambassador) in the Philippines, would take up the post as envoy in Israel and Cyprus and become apostolic delegate in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Franco has served in the Philippines since 1999. He replaces Archbishop Pietro Sambi, who last month was named the new papal nuncio in Washington. Franco was born in Italy in 1937 and has also served as envoy of Pope John Paul II to Ukraine. The Vatican and Israel established diplomatic relations in December 1993.
