Joseph Spiteri (born 20 May 1959) is a Maltese prelate of the Catholic Church who works in the diplomatic service of the Holy See. He has been Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon since March 2018.


Joseph Spiteri
Apostolic Nuncio to Mexico
Titular Archbishop of Serta [it]
ChurchRoman Catholic
Appointed7 July 2022
PredecessorFranco Coppola
Other post(s)Titular Archbishop of Serta [it]
Previous post(s)
Orders
Ordination29 June 1984
by Joseph Mercieca
Consecration24 May 2009
by Tarcisio Bertone, Paul Cremona and Joseph Mercieca
Personal details
Born (1959-05-20) May 20, 1959 (age 65)
NationalityMaltese
MottoCommunionis Donus Servare
Coat of armsJoseph Spiteri's coat of arms
Styles of
Joseph Spiteri
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleArchbishop

Biography

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Joseph Spiteri was born on 20 May 1959 in Sliema Malta,[1] though the family lived in Luqa. He was the first child born to Ernest Spiteri and Emmanuela née Cassar. After attending local seminaries he was ordained a priest on 29 June 1984 by Archbishop Joseph Mercieca in St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta. After a brief pastoral assignment, he studied at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy and earned a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in 1988.[2]

Diplomatic career

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He joined the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 15 July 1988 and fulfilled assignments in Panama, Iraq, Mexico, Portugal, Greece and Venezuela, and then worked in the offices of the Secretariat of State in Rome.[1]

On 21 February 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Apostolic Nuncio to Sri Lanka and Titular Archbishop of Serta [it].[1] He was consecrated by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, with the Maltese archbishops Paul Cremona and Joseph Mercieca as co-conservators, in St John's Co-Cathedral.[3][4]

On 1 October 2013, Pope Francis appointed him Nuncio to the Côte d'Ivoire.[5]

On 7 March 2018, Pope Francis named him Nuncio to Lebanon.[6]

On 7 July 2022, Pope Francis named him Nuncio to Mexico.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Rinunce e Nomine, 21.02.2009" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 21 February 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  2. ^ "Archbishop Mgr. Joseph Spiteri, Apostolic Nuncio to the Ivory Coast, Visits Id-Dar tal-Providenza". Id-Dar tal-Providenza. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  3. ^ Galea Debono, Fiona (25 May 2009). "New Maltese Apostolic Nuncio plans to help in Sri Lanka humanitarian crisis". The Times of Malta. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  4. ^ "Archbishop Joseph Spiteri Of Malta Appointed New Apostolic Nuncio To Lebanon: Catholic Information Center". Ivory Coast Times. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  5. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 01.10.2013" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 1 October 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  6. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 07.03.2018" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  7. ^ "Rinunce e nomine, 07.07.2022" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
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