(Ottawa -- CCCB) His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI today appointed Most Reverend Pedro López Quintana Apostolic Nuncio to Canada. He was Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal since 2003. Archbishop López Quintana succeeds Most Reverend Luigi Ventura who recently became Apostolic Nuncio to France.

Archbishop Pedro López Quintana was born in Barbastro, Spain, on 27 July 1953. He was ordained priest on 15 June 1980 and Bishop on 6 January 2003.

Archbishop López Quintana entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1984 and has served in the Apostolic Nunciatures of Madagascar, the Philippines and India as well as in the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, as Assessor for General Affairs.

Archbishop López Quintana holds a Doctorate in Canon Law and speaks five languages: Spanish, Italian, French, English and Portuguese.

In a recent episode of Catholic Focus, which aired just weeks before Archbishop Ventura departed for France, we explored the role of the nuncio and evaluated the present state of Canada’s relationship with the Vatican. Streaming online here, "Dominion from Sea to See" includes interviews with Archbishop Ventura, as well as with Anne Leahy, who holds the reverse position as Canada’s ambassador to the Holy See.