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Pope Leo XIV Appoints Romanian Diplomat to Council of Europe
Confirmed
In Short: Pope Leo XIV has appointed Romanian diplomat Monsignor Paul Butnaru as the Holy See's new permanent observer to the Council of Europe, a role that underscores the Vatican's commitment to human rights and migrant issues.
The Council of Europe, founded in 1949, is Europe's leading human rights organization, dedicated to upholding democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
The Holy See, while not a full member due to its non-state status, has maintained diplomatic relations with the Council of Europe since 1970.
During his visit to the Council of Europe in 2014, Pope Francis emphasized the need for a humane response to migrants, stating, 'We cannot allow the Mediterranean to become a vast cemetery.
Pope Leo XIV echoed similar sentiments during his visit to Spain in June 2026, calling for a 'culture of negotiation' to address the suffering of migrants and other pressing issues.
Monsignor Butnaru's appointment reflects the Vatican's ongoing engagement with the Council of Europe on issues such as migration, human rights, and social dialogue.
Pope Leo XIV's upcoming four-day Apostolic Journey to France, which includes meetings with authorities, civil society, and the diplomatic corps, further highlights the Vatican's active role in international affairs.
The Pope's itinerary also includes a visit to UNESCO and a series of meetings with church leaders, business representatives, and community organizations from the Americas.
Pope Leo XIV's appointments and engagements demonstrate the Vatican's continued focus on fostering dialogue and addressing global challenges through diplomatic means.
What this adds
This report adds details about Pope Leo XIV's upcoming Apostolic Journey to France and his broader diplomatic engagements, which were not covered in the prior WarpBeat line.
Background
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Romanian diplomat Monsignor Paul Butnaru as the Holy See's new permanent observer to the Council of Europe, a move that underscores the Vatican's ongoing commitment to human rights and migrant issues.
What's confirmed
- His Holiness Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Michael A.
- PARIS (AP) — Pope Leo XIV, during his four-day visit to France beginning Friday, will meet privately with seven survivors of sexual abuse by priests and other Catholic personnel.
- Some survivors’ groups have criticized the decision to select individuals rather than representatives of established organizations.
What's still developing
- Pope Leo XIV has appointed Romanian diplomat Monsignor Paul Butnaru as the new permanent observer of the Holy See to the Council of Europe.
- Criticizing the number of deaths resulting from the mass drownings of migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea to Southern Europe, Francis warned the council in his address not to betray their mission by ignoring the suffering of these migrants.
- Pope Leo XIV will begin a four-day Apostolic Journey to France on Friday, September 25, with a packed program that will take him to Paris, Saint-Denis, Lourdes and Metz.
- Later in the day, Pope Leo will visit the headquarters of UNESCO, where he is expected to address issues including artificial intelligence.
- In the afternoon, the Pope will celebrate Vespers with bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated men and women, and seminarians at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.
- On Saturday morning, Pope Leo will visit the Maison Bakhita Centre for Social Support and Integration before meeting members of the Provincial Synodal Assembly, catechumens and newly baptized Catholics at the Institut Catholique de Paris.
- Later that afternoon, the Pope will fly from Paris to Lourdes, arriving in the evening.
- Pope Leo will spend Sunday at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, one of the world’s most prominent Catholic pilgrimage destinations.
- The Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe rejoiced with the Church as Pope Leo XIV announced the appointment of Br.
- The Diocese of Fajardo-Humacao was founded on March 11, 2008, by Pope Benedict XVI.
- This was the fourth of the synodal style encounters that were inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti,” published in October 2020.
- The encounters were started by the churches of Latin America and the Caribbean in Bogotá, Colombia in 2022, and developed significantly thanks to the coordination of the Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for Latin America and its secretary, Emilce Cuda, an Argentine theologian whom Pope Francis appointed to the post in February 2022.
Sources
- Ewtnnewslink
- Friarslink
- Insidernjlink
- Ncregisterlink
- Newjerseylink
- Orthodoxtimeslink
- Americamagazinelink
- Ewtnnewslink
- Religionnewslink
- Ncronlinelink
- Chicagotribunelink
- Norwichdioceselink
- Dioceseofraleighlink
- WarpBeat — background on Pope Leo XIV Appoints Romanian Diplomat to Council of Europe link
- ET Now World — video link