VATICAN CITY, JUNE 25, 2012 (Zenit.org).- On Saturday, the Holy See press office announced that Benedict XVI has appointed Archbishop Alain Paul Lebeaupin as the Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union. The French prelate succeeds Archbishop André Dupuy, who was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to the Netherlands.
Born in Paris, France, Archbishop Lebeaupin first served the Holy See diplomatic service in New York at the Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations, beginning in 1979. He then served in the Apostolic Nunciatures in both the Dominican Republic and Mozambique.
After serving several years as the Chargé d’affaires at the Apostolic Nunciature to the European Union, he was appointed Titular Archbishop of Vico Equense and as Apostolic Nuncio to Ecuador.
Archbishop Lebeaupin served as nuncio to Ecuador for more than five years and was then appointed as Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya. At the same time, he served as the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations Environment Program and the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT).
Although not a member, the Holy See has been accredited for representation within the European Communities since 1970.
