Pope Francis thanked his representatives in various countries — apostolic nuncios — for being “points of reference in the moments of greatest disorientation and turbulence.” He met September 8, 2022, with about 100 pontifical representatives gathered at the Vatican for their triennial meeting.
During the audience, the pontiff expressed his sadness that after the “tempest” of the COVID-19 pandemic, “Europe and the entire world are convulsed by a war of particular gravity, in terms of the violation of international law, the risks of nuclear escalation, and the grave economic and social consequences.”
It is a “piecemeal” third world war, to which you bear witness in the places where you carry out your mission.
The pope also spoke to his diplomats about the work in progress in the Church: the “synodal journey”; the Jubilee 2025; and the application of the Apostolic Constitution of the Roman Curia Praedicate Evangelium.
The meeting of the nuncios, from September 7 to 10 — the fourth of its kind since the beginning of Francis’ pontificate — will include meetings with officials of the Secretariat of State.
Ninety-one apostolic nuncios and six permanent observers without episcopal status are present; five are absent for health reasons. In addition to these representatives, there are 167 collaborators with diplomatic functions around the world.
