Pope Francis appoints Archbishop Jurkovič new nuncio to Canada
June 5 2021
Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič has represented the Holy See at the UN and specialized institutions in Geneva since 2016 and now moves on to continue his service as Apostolic Nuncio to Canada. The 69-year-old Slovenian archbishop has served previously in a number of countries.
From Vatican News:
About the new nuncio to Canada:
His Excellency Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič was born on June 10, 1952, in Banja Loka, Kočevje, Slovenia.
On June 29, 1977, he was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Ljubljana (Slovenia). He is a graduate from the Faculty of Theology in Ljubljana. Between 1980 and 1984 he completed his studies in Canon Law at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome and at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy. He holds a Doctorate in Canon Law.
On May 1, 1984, he joined the diplomatic service of the Holy See serving in the following capacities and locations:
1984-1988. Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature to Korea;
1988-1992, Counsellor of the Apostolic Nunciature to Colombia;
1992-1995. Counsellor of the Representation of the Holy See to the Russian Federation;
1996-2001 Counsellor at the Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See in Vatican City.
On October 6, 2001, Msgr. Jurkovič received Episcopal Consecration and was appointed Titular Archbishop of Corbavia. Following the same, he served in the following missions:
2001-2004. Apostolic Nuncio to Belarus (appointed July 27, 2001);
2004-2011. Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine (appointed April 22, 2004);
2011-2016. Apostolic Nuncio to the Russian Federation (appointed February 2011). At same time, Apostolic Nuncio in Uzbekistan (appointed July 22, 2011);
2016-2021. Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, Permanent Observer to the World Trade Organization (WTO), and also Representative of the Holy See to the International Organization for Migrantion (IOM) (appointed February 13, 2016).
Archbishop Jurkovič’s mother tongue is Slovenian, however, he is likewise well versed in Italian, Spanish, English, Russian, German, French, Serbian, Croatian and Ukrainian.
CCCB statement following
the appointment of the Most Rev. Ivan Jurkovič as Apostolic Nuncio in Canada
June 8, 2021
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops welcomes with gratefulness the announcement of the appointment of Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič as Apostolic Nuncio to Canada. The Bishops express their gratitude to the Lord and to the Holy Father while extending a warm welcome to the new Papal Representative on Canadian soil. They assure His Excellency the Nuncio of an ecclesial collaboration marked by respect, communion and fraternity.
The Bishops acknowledge that this important mission constitutes a privileged channel that expresses the ecclesial and affective bond with Pope Francis himself. Canadian Bishops recognize particularly the Apostolic Nuncio’s crucial ecclesial mission entrusted to him with its two aspects: that of Representative of the Holy Father to the Church in Canada and that of Representative of the Holy See to the political authorities of this country. The Episcopal Conference, through its members, welcomes this much waited appointment and is eager to get to know him personally.
Archbishop Jurkovič’s ecclesial, pastoral and diplomatic journey is extensive and diverse and will serve him admirably in the exercise of his ministry in Canada. The Bishops wish him a safe arrival and a joyful discovery of Canada, its peoples, its traditions, its cultures and its faith in Christ the Lord.
May Mary, mother of the Church and Saint Joseph, patron of Canada, watch over him and accompany him in his mission.
Déclaration de la CECC
suite à la nomination de Mgr Ivan Jurkovič en tant que Nonce apostolique au Canada
8 juin 2021
La Conférence des évêques catholiques du Canada accueille avec gratitude l’annonce de la nomination de Mgr Ivan Jurkovič comme Nonce apostolique au Canada. Les évêques expriment leur reconnaissance au Seigneur et au Saint-Père et souhaitent la plus cordiale bienvenue au nouveau Représentant pontifical en terre canadienne. Ils assurent Mgr le Nonce d’une collaboration ecclésiale marquée par le respect, la communion et la fraternité.
Les évêques reconnaissent que cette importante mission constitue un canal privilégié qui exprime le lien ecclésial et affectif avec le pape François. Les évêques au Canada reconnaissent en particulier la mission ecclésiale cruciale qui est confiée au Nonce apostolique et qui porte sur deux aspects : celui de Représentant du Saint-Père auprès de l’Église au Canada et celui de Représentant du Saint-Siège auprès des autorités politiques de ce pays. La Conférence épiscopale, à travers ses membres, se réjouit de cette nomination si attendue et a hâte de pouvoir le connaître personnellement.
Le parcours ecclésial, pastoral et diplomatique de Mgr Jurkovič est vaste et diversifié et lui servira admirablement dans l’exercice de son ministère au Canada. Les évêques lui souhaitent une bonne arrivée et une joyeuse découverte de la richesse du Canada, ses peuples, ses traditions, ses cultures et sa foi dans le Christ Seigneur.
Que Marie, mère de l’Église et saint Joseph, patron du Canada, veillent sur lui et l’accompagnent dans sa mission.
