Spanish Government Has "Not Blocked" Nuncio

The Spanish government has not blocked the appointment of the new nuncio to Spain, Italian Archbishop Piero Pioppo, diplomatic sources assured TheDiplomatInSpain.com on 29 July.

Previously, SilereNonPossum had reported that the government in Spain had rejected the appointment: "After weeks of waiting and confidential negotiations, the name of Archbishop Pioppo has disappeared from the radar."

Archbishop Pioppo's promotion to Spain was put forward by the Secretariat of State shortly after the previous Nuncio Bernardito Auza was transferred to the European Union in March.

Rumours that the Spanish government "discreetly blocked the process without offering public explanations" are "false", reported The Diplomat.

Born in Savona in 1960, Piero Pioppo was ordained a priest in 1985 and served as private secretary to Cardinal Angelo Sodano. Benedict XVI wanted to get rid of Pioppo and promoted him to Africa. Read all about his biography here.

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