Episcopal Ordination of Archbishop José Bettencourt › 2437... · 1 Episcopal Ordination of...
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Episcopal Ordination of Archbishop José Bettencourt
On Monday, I will be in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican to participate
in the ordination of an Ottawa priest to the order of bishop.
Pope Francis chose March 19, the feast of St. Joseph—to whom he has
a personal devotion—and the fifth anniversary of his papal ministry, as
the occasion to consecrate Msgr. José Bettencourt for the office of
Apostolic Nuncio to the nations of Georgia and Armenia.
A nuncio—sometimes called a papal nuncio—is an ecclesiastical
diplomat, an envoy of the Holy See to a state or an international
organization. Nuncios head up diplomatic missions, called an Apostolic
Nunciature, the equivalent of an embassy.
In addition, the nuncio serves as the liaison between the Holy See and
the Church in a particular nation, dialoguing with the national body of
bishops. He also consults the local churches concerning the selection of
bishops.
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Since early 2014, Canada’s Ottawa-based Apostolic Nuncio has been
Archbishop Luigi Bonazzi.
Archbishop-elect Bettencourt was born in Velas, in the Portuguese
Azores, on May 23, 1962. He immigrated to Ottawa with his parents as
a child and attended elementary and secondary school here. His
widowed mother, younger brother, and his family live near the Ottawa
Portuguese parish Senhor Santo Cristo.
After graduating from the University of Ottawa, Bettencourt studied
theology at Dominican University College and Saint Paul University.
Archbishop Marcel Gervais ordained him a priest in 1993.
After serving in his home parish and Holy Redeemer Parish, he
attended the Vatican’s Diplomatic Academy, gaining a doctorate in
Canon Law at the Gregorian University in Rome. He served as secretary
to the Apostolic Nunciature in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
during a civil war. He then returned to Rome to serve in the Secretariat
of State section for Relations with States in 2002.
In 2012, Pope Benedict named Msgr. Bettencourt Head of Protocol. He
welcomed visiting political leaders and dealt with diplomats accredited
to the Vatican. He speaks English, French, Portuguese, Italian, and
Spanish.
Over his twenty years in diplomatic work, he has remained close to his
family and to the Ottawa diocese.
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During his visits home and my visits to Rome, we have stayed
connected. I have found him to be the soul of discretion. He observes
and understands the complexity of the Church’s relation to the wider
world. Wherever he serves, that country will treasure his presence.
About his recent posting, Bettencourt says, “I am really excited with my
new service to the Church.”
“First, and foremost, I am a priest like any other who has been asked to
render a particular kind of service to the Church—as a diplomat.”
He compares his ministry to that of a military or university chaplain,
describing it as “a service to the people no matter what race, creed or
colour—yet remaining faithful to the Catholic Church.”
“A nuncio collaborates with the local Church, at times giving a voice to
those without a voice, suffice it to consider the Church’s role in Syria,
the Central African Republic, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic
of the Congo amongst others,” Bettencourt said. “He concerns himself
with the unity of the Church and its particular role and contribution to
society, health care, education and social outreach.”
Pope Francis invites the bishops whom he ordains to emulate St.
Joseph, who is also the patron saint of Canada, patron of the
Archdiocese of Ottawa, and the patron for Archbishop-elect José. It
should be an auspicious celebration and glorious occasion. “Ad multos
annos!” is the appropriate wish: may you have many happy and grace-
filled years of episcopal service!