Overview

• The Holy See announced on September 15 that Archbishop Piero Pioppo will succeed Bernardito Auza as the Pope’s representative in Spain and Andorra.
• Pioppo most recently served as nuncio in Indonesia and to ASEAN, following earlier postings in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea and a long tenure in the Secretariat of State.
• The Madrid nunciature had been vacant for about six months, with Spanish government sources rejecting reports of a political veto and attributing delays to administrative timing over the summer.
• The appointment received approval from Spain’s Council of Ministers last week, clearing the way for the Vatican’s formal announcement.
• Pioppo previously served as prelate of the Vatican bank (IOR) from 2006 to 2010 and is viewed as close to conservative curial circles, and he now faces sensitive issues such as the future of Valle de Cuelgamuros and managing strained church–state relations.