Petar Rajič

His Excellency

Petar Antun Rajič
Apostolic Nuncio to Italy and San Marino
Titular Archbishop of Sarsenterum
ChurchCatholic Church
Appointed11 March 2024
PredecessorEmil Paul Tscherrig
Other post(s)Titular Archbishop of Sarsenterum
Previous post(s)
Orders
Ordination29 June 1987
Consecration23 January 2010
by Tarcisio Bertone
Personal details
Born (1959-06-12) 12 June 1959 (age 65)
Toronto, Canada
NationalityCroatian/Canadian
DenominationCatholic
Alma materUniversity of Toronto
Pontifical Lateran University[1]
Motto"Christus Dominus Nos Liberavit (For Freedom Christ Has Set Us Free)" [1]
Coat of armsPetar Antun Rajič's coat of arms
Styles of
Petar Rajič
Coat of arms of Petar Rajič
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleArchbishop

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.

Biography

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][2]

Diplomatic career

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.[3] 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.[4]

On 15 June 2015, Pope Francis named him apostolic nuncio to Angola and São Tomé e Principe.[5]

On 15 June 2019 he was named apostolic nuncio to Lithuania,[6] adding the responsibilities of Estonia and Latvia on 6 August.[7]

On 11 March 2024 he was named apostolic nuncio to Italy and San Marino.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "His Grace Archbishop Petar Rajič - Former Apostolic Nuncio to the Arabian Peninsula". avona.org.
  2. ^ Angola e Vaticano preparam acordo de cooperação, retrieved 19 January 2020
  3. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 02.12.2009" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 2 December 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 27.03.2010" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 27 March 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  5. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 15.06.2015" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  6. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 15.06.2019" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 15 June 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  7. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 06.08.2019" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  8. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 11.03.2024" (Press release). Holy See PreA Office. 11 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.