The Papal Nuncio to Ireland, Dr Luciano Storero, has confirmed that he is to retire at the end of this month or early next month.
Dr Storero, who has been in Ireland since February 1996, said he had been ill for some time and would be retiring to his native village near Turin in Italy. Though 74 years old next week, Dr Storero would normally have had another year's service before official retirement age.
His term as Nuncio was his second period in Ireland, as he worked at the nunciature from 1959 to 1962. He said yesterday he has had a "very happy time" here.
He has been working in the Vatican diplomatic service since 1953 in nunciatures in Egypt, Japan, the US, India, Sri Lanka.
From 1970 he was Nuncio or Pro-Nuncio in the Dominican Republic, Cameroon, Gabon, India, Venezuela, and Greece before coming to Ireland.
As Nuncio his primary role was to liaise between the Vatican and the Irish Government as well as between the Vatican and the Irish Bishops' Conference.
However, for some his most significant function was in the influence he would have had over church appointments here, particularly of bishops.
