Joseph_Spiteri
Joseph Spiteri
Maltese prelate of the Catholic Church (born 1959)
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] | |
| Church | Roman Catholic |
| Appointed | 7 July 2022 |
| Predecessor | Franco Coppola |
| Other post(s) | Titular Archbishop of Serta [it] |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 29 June 1984 by Joseph Mercieca |
| Consecration | 24 May 2009 by Tarcisio Bertone, Paul Cremona and Joseph Mercieca |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1959-05-20) May 20, 1959 (age 65) |
| Nationality | Maltese |
| Previous post(s) |
|
| Motto | Communionis Donus Servare |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Joseph Spiteri | |
|---|---|
| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Archbishop |
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]
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]
- "Rinunce e Nomine, 21.02.2009" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 21 February 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
- "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.
- 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.
- "Archbishop Joseph Spiteri Of Malta Appointed New Apostolic Nuncio To Lebanon: Catholic Information Center". Ivory Coast Times. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
- "Rinunce e Nomine, 01.10.2013" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 1 October 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
- "Resignations and Appointments, 07.03.2018" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
- "Rinunce e nomine, 07.07.2022" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
