Pope Francis appoints a new Apostolic Nuncio for the Independent State of Solomon Islands.

His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed His Excellency Most Reverend Mauro Lalli as the Apostolic Nuncio to the Solomon Islands.

The appointment was revealed through a Press Release from the Apostolic Nunciature (Embassy of the Holy See in PNG) dated Tuesday May 14, 2024.

According to the Press Release, the appointment was made known to the Catholic Faithful and people of goodwill on Tuesday May 14, 2024 at 12:00noon in the Vatican, which corresponds to 9:00 pm in the Solomon Islands.

The appointment came two months after His Excellency Most Reverend Mauro Lalli was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea.

Prior to his appointment to Papua New Guinea and later to the Solomon Islands, Archbishop Lalli was serving in Jordan.

He speaks Italian, English, French and Spanish.

He is the predecessor of His Excellency Archbishop Fermin Emilio Sosa Rodriguez who is now serving as the Apostolic Nuncio to Bolivia.

Short Biography:

-       Born on September 17, 1965 in Atessa, Chieti – Italy.

-       He was ordained priest on July 14, 1990, for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chieti-Vasto.

-       From 1990 to 1995 he was appointed parish priest and assistant professor of religion of the regional youth ministry. In 1995, he was sent to the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in preparation for diplomatic service.

-       In 1999 he obtained a doctorate in Civil Law and Canon Law at the Pontifical Lateran University.

-       He entered the Diplomatic Service on July 1, 1999 and subsequently worked in the Papal Representations in Guatemala, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Romania, Croatia, India, Iraq, Jordan and Cyprus.

-       On March 1, 2024, the Holy Father appointed him as Titular Archbishop of Pausula and Apostolic Nuncio to Papua New Guinea.

-       He was consecrated as an Archbishop on May 11, 2024