Birth name Giacinto Berloco Consecration April 5, 1990 Predecessor Karl-Josef Rauber | Name Giacinto Berloco Denomination Roman Catholic Ordination March 19, 1966 | |
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Appointed 18 Jun 2009 (BE), 24 Jul 2009 (L) Other posts Titular Archbishop of Fidenae Born 31 August 1941 (age 82)
Altamura, Italy ( 1941-08-31 ) Previous post Apostolic Nuncio to Zimbabwe (1990 - 1993)
Apostolic Nuncio to Mozambique(1990 - 1993)
Apostolic Nuncio to Costa Rica (1993 - 1998)
Apostolic Nuncio to El Salvador (1998 - 2005)
Apostolic Nuncio to Belize and Antilles (1998 - 2005)
Apostolic Nuncio to Venezuela (2005 - 2009) | ||
Giacinto Berloco (born 31 August 1941) is an Italian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the Nuncio to Belgium from 18 June 2009, and to Luxembourg from 24 July 2009, having been appointed by Pope Benedict XVI.
Biography
Born in Altamura, Italy, Giacinto Berloco was ordained to the priesthood on 19 March 1966, and was active in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altamura-Gravina-Acquaviva delle Fonti. Berloco obtained a Doctor of Theology degree and a Licentiate in Canon law.
Giacinto Berloco entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1972, serving as an attache in the Pontifical Representations in Costa Rica, the Netherlands and Spain, and then in the Vatican Secretariat of State. On 5 September 1974 Pope Paul VI gave him the honorary title of Chaplain of His Holiness (Mgr) on 24 June 1985 Pope John Paul II gave him the title of Honorary Prelate of His Holiness.
On 15 March 1990 Pope John Paul II appointed him Titular Archbishop of Fidenae and he was made the Holy See’s liaison with Zimbabwe and Mozambique. He was consecrated bishop on 5 April 1990 by Pope John Paul II, co-consecrators were the Vatican official of the Secretariat of State, Giovanni Battista Re, and the Secretary of the Congregation for Bishops, Justin Francis Rigali. On 17 July 1993 Giacinto Berloco was appointed Nuncio in Costa Rica. On 5 May 1998 Pope John Paul II appointed him Nuncio in El Salvador, Belize and the Antilles. On 24 February 2005 Berloco was appointed Nuncio in Venezuela. On 18 June 2009 Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Nuncio in Belgium. On 24 July 2009 he was also appointed Nuncio in Luxembourg.
On Wednesday, March 8, 2017, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Berloco, 75, to a five-year term as a Member of the Congregation for Bishops. The terms are normally renewable, but in five years he will be 80, at which time Cardinals and Bishops usually step down from their main position- they are already required to offer their resignations at age 75 (he has retired as an Apostolic Nuncio already), and also from all Curial memberships or advisory posts, though the Pope can dispense from both age limits for a time if he wishes, except for the ability to vote in a conclave.