Luanda - The Apostolic Nuncio to Angola, Giovanni Gaspari, bid farewell this Monday, in Luanda, to the Angolan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Teté António, at the end of his three and a half year mission.
During the audience, according to a press release, the representative of Pope Francis thanked all the diplomatic support he received during his stay in Angola.
Mgr. Giovanni Gaspari spoke of the excellent cooperative relations maintained with the Angolan State, particularly related to "humanitarian initiatives, interreligious dialogue, the promotion of peace and social justice."
He said it was a remarkable and satisfying mission and he was leaving Angola with a sense of accomplishment.
One of his greatest achievements, he revealed, as Apostolic Nuncio to Angola, was to attend the ordination of the first Angolan nuncio, Mgr. Germano Penemote, whose ceremony took place in the province of Cunene. Mgr Germano Penemote was appointed, on June 16, 2023, Apostolic Nuncio to Pakistan.
On the other hand, Archbishop Giovanni Gaspari expressed his desire to see Pope Francis during the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Angola's national independence, in November 2025.
For his part, Minister Teté António expressed his appreciation for the notable efforts and contributions of the Apostolic Nuncio during his mission to Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe.
Born in 1963, Mgr Giovanni Gaspari, in Abruzzo (Italy), has been a priest since 1987.
He graduated in canon law and obtained a license in moral theology.
He joined the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 2001 and served in the pontifical diplomatic missions in Iran, Albania, Mexico, Lithuania, then worked for a time at the Secretariat of State, in the Section of relations with states.
In September 2020, Pope Francis appointed him Nuncio to Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe.
After Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe, Mgr Giovanni Gaspari was recently appointed to the same position in Korea and Mongolia, replacing Mgr Alfred Xuereb.
VIC/LUZ
