Faustino Sainz was born in Almaden, Spain. He was ordained a priest in December 1964. He has a doctorate in canon law.
He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1970 and served in the pontifical representations in Senegal and Scandinavia, and later in the Vatican Secretariat of State’s Council of Public Affairs. The Vatican press office announced the new appointment on Saturday.
In 1988 he was appointed apostolic pro-nuncio to Cuba and then, four years later, apostolic nuncio to Zaire (now Congo).
Archbishop Sainz was appointed apostolic pro-nuncio to the European Community in Brussels in 1999, a post he has held ever since.
Besides his native Spanish, the archbishop speaks English, Italian and French.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor said: «I welcome the appointment of Archbishop Faustino Sainz Muñoz as the new papal nuncio to Great Britain. His experience and wisdom will be of enormous value to us at a time of challenge and opportunity in the life of the Church in our country.»
Archbishop Sainz Muñoz is replacing Archbishop Pablo Puente, who stepped down in October.
