After the indiscretion launched by Elisabetta Piquè on The Nationa future appointment of monsignor is considered highly probable Georg Gänswein, former historic private secretary of Benedict XVI, as apostolic nuncio. A rumor confirmed by the Vatican correspondent de The Corriere della Sera Gian Guido Vecchi who today, based on rumors collected across the Tiber, also reports a possible destination: Vilnius.
The nunciature
It is a “young” nunciature since relations between the Holy See and the Baltic republics they resumed in 1991, after half a century of interruption caused by the Soviet occupation. The nuncio in Vilnius is the same as in Latvia and Estonia. The history of pontifical diplomacy in this area, however, there is an important chapter from the pre-Soviet period: after the First World War, with the birth of national states, the Holy See established diplomatic relations by appointing the Jesuit Monsignor Antonino Zecchini as apostolic delegate to the Baltic States. The prelate then became apostolic nuncio in Riga, where he died in 1935. In 1940 Lithuania had an exclusive apostolic nuncio with the appointment of Monsignor Luigi Centoz who settled in Kaunas as Vilnius was a city disputed with Poland. With the Soviet occupation, however, the nuncio was expelled and the concordat signed in 1927 abolished.
Vacancy
The post of nuncio in Vilnius is vacant since last March after Monsignor Petar Rajič, the last to fill it, was appointed apostolic nuncio to Italy and the Republic of San Marino by Francis. The hypothesized destination for Monsignor Gänswein would certainly not be the most peaceful: the proximity to the war in Ukraine and with the “inconvenient” Russian neighbor he has given Rajič more than his share of trouble in these two years. Last August, after the Pope’s words to the young Russian Catholics gathered in St. Petersburg which had caused so much discussion due to the reference to the “Great Mother Russia”, the foreign minister of Lithuania had summoned the nuncio for clarification. The geographical location and historical experience makes Lithuania one of the countries most sensitive to Russian expansionism. The Vilnius government has shown in recent years that it does not appreciate the attitude of the Holy See which is evidently considered too neutralist in the face of the war in Ukraine. It is no mystery that the border with the Baltic countries is among the hottest and that in those parts the worst scenarios cannot be ruled out in the future. If he were to actually be sent to Vilnius, Monsignor Gänswein could often be called upon to clarify the traditionally pacifist and multilateral positions of the Holy See which also has the worry to preserve the ecumenical dialogue with the Moscow Patriarchate.
The experience
In the aftermath of the death of Benedict XVIbefore the controversy erupted over the release of his book Nothing but the truth, a diplomatic career was considered the most likely for Monsignor Gänswein’s future.
The former private secretary of Benedict XVI has gained significant experience in relations with powerful people around the world in his years as prefect of the pontifical household, having had the task of preparing the Pope’s audiences with heads of state, government and ministers.
