Pope Benedict XVI today appointed Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza as Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland.
Archbishop Leanza (65) was born in Cesarò, Italy; was ordained a priest at the age of 23; and became a bishop at the age of 47.
Titular Archbishop of Lilybaeum, he has served as papal nuncio to Haiti, Malawi, Zambia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenia, Macedonia and Bulgaria.
He replaces Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto who was transferred as papal nuncio to Australia. Archbishop Lazzarotto had been papal nuncio to Ireland since November 11th, 2000.
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The Pope also appointed Monsignor Noel Treanor (54) as a new bishop to Down and Connor today.
Monaghan-born Monsignor Treanor works in Brussels with the European Bishops' Commission.