VATICAN CITY, MAY 16 (Zenit.org): Pope Benedict XVI appointed Archbishop Fernando Filoni, titular Archbishop of Volturno, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. He was until now Deputy Secretary of State for General Affairs. Archbishop Filoni succeeds Cardinal Ivan Dias who served as its Prefect for the last five years.
The Secretary of the Vatican state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who read the decree of appointment, thanked Cardinal Dias on behalf of the Holy Father to for his long and dedicated commitment to the service of the Holy See.
Archbishop Fernando Filoni was born in Manduria, Diocese of Oria and the province of Taranto (Italy) April 15, 1946. He was ordained priest on July 3, 1970 and was incardinated in the diocese of Nardò.
He graduated in Philosophy and Canon Law. He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on April 3, 1981, and has served at the Pontifical Representatives in Sri Lanka and Iran, at the Secretary of State, in Brazil and the Philippines.
In 2001 he was appointed titular see of Volturno as Archbishop and appointed Apostolic Nuncio in Jordan and Iraq. In 2006 he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines. On June 9, 2007 Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State.
The Shrine of Bellary Arogya Mathe was blessed and dedicated on 8th September 2000 on the feast of the Nativity of our Blessed Mother Mary in memory of the great jubilee 2000 and the Golden Jubilee of the Diocese of Bellary