Charles Daniel Balvo

Charles Daniel Balvo (born 29 June 1951) is an archbishop of the Catholic Church who has been the Apostolic Nuncio to the Czech Republic since 21 September 2018.

His Excellency Charles Daniel Balvo JCD SSL
Apostolic Nuncio to the Czech Republic Titular Archbishop of Castello
Charles Daniel Balvo
Appointed	September 21, 2018
Orders
Ordination	June 6, 1976 by Leo Thomas Maher
Consecration	June 29, 2005 by Edward Egan
Personal details
Born	June 29, 1951 Brooklyn, New York
Nationality	American
Previous post	Apostolic Nuncio to: New Zealand (2005–2013) Fiji (2005–2013) Marshall Islands (2005–2013) Federated States of Micronesia (2005–2013) Vanuatu (2005–2013) Tonga (2005–2013) Kiribati (2005–2013) Palau (2005–2013) Cook Islands (2006–2013) Samoa (2006–2013) Nauru (2006–2013) Kenya (2013–2018 South Sudan (2013–2018)
Alma mater	Pontifical Gregorian University, Catholic University of America

Styles of Charles Daniel Balvo
Reference style	The Most Reverend
Spoken style	His Excellency
Religious style	Archbishop

Biography

A native of Brooklyn, Balvo grew up in Suffern, New York, where he graduated from Sacred Heart School. He studied at Cathedral College, both in Manhattan and in Queens.

He studied for the priesthood at the North American College in Rome, obtained a baccalaureate in sacred theology and a licentiate in biblical theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. He then pursued his studies in canon law and obtained his licentiate at the Catholic University of America and doctorate at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

Balvo has been a member of the Vatican diplomatic corps since 1987. He served in the apostolic nunciatures in Lithuania, Jordan, the Czech Republic and Ghana.[1]

He served at Sacred Heart parish, in Newburgh, New York, from 1976 to 1981, and then at St. John the Evangelist, in Mahopac for a year.

On April 1, 2005, he was appointed Titular Archbishop of Castello and Apostolic Nuncio to New Zealand, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Federated States of Micronesia, Tonga, Palau and Vanuatu.[2] He received his episcopal consecration from Cardinal Edward Egan on June 29, 2005.[1] The Cook Islands were added to his responsibilities on March 25, 2006,[3][lower-alpha 1] and Samoa on April 1, 2006[4] and Nauru on January 30, 2007.[5]

He was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya on 17 January 2013, as well as Permanent Observer to United Nations Organizations for the Environment and Human Settlements (UNEP and UN-Habitat).[6] After Kenyan Cardinal John Njue denounced US President Barack Obama's call for Kenya to protect LGBT rights,[7] Balvo told an audience of Kenyan Catholics that "The homosexuals should be defended against violation of their dignity and human rights, they are human beings like anyone of us".[8]

On December 21, 2013 was appointed the first Apostolic Nuncio to South Sudan as well.[9]

Archbishop Balvo, speaking on the crisis in South Sudan said civil society needs to be involved not just in negotiations on the government level but “should be actively involved always.” Speaking to CISA news agency February 17, he said civil society and the Church have already asked the warring factions to lay down their arms and work out their differences, adding that in the end it is the people who are suffering. "In a country that has a lot of resources, it will not be easy to develop them unless there is peace," he said. He said the Church was doing much to help people through promotion of their welfare and would continue to ensure that peace prevails in the nation. "It is very hard to promote and create a society with generations of people that all they have known is violence," he said.[10]

On 21 September 2018, Pope Francis named him Apostolic Nuncio to the Czech Republic.[11]

Notes

1. The Cook Islands were included in the list of nations to which Balvo was named Apostolic Nuncio on April 1, 2005, and then announced separately on March 25, 2006, suggesting that the original announcement was premature.

References

1. Francis Njuguna (April 18, 2013). "New York-born Archbishop Balvo Begins Term as Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya". Catholic New York. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
2. "Rinunce e Nomine, 01.04.2005" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. April 1, 2005. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
3. "Rinunce e Nomine, 25.03.2006" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. March 25, 2006. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
4. "Rinunce e Nomine, 01.04.2006" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. April 1, 2006. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
5. "Rinunce e Nomine, 30.01.2007" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. January 30, 2007. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
6. "Rinunce e Nomine, 17.01.2013" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
7. Olick, Felix (29 June 2013). "Adam and Eve was no mistake, Cardinal Njue tells US President Obama". Standard Digital. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
8. "Pope's envoy champions gays and lebians rights". The Star. July 1, 2013. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
9. "Rinunce e Nomine, 21.12.2013" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 21 December 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
10. "Nuncio to South Sudan Proposes a Path to Peace". Zenit. February 20, 2014.
11. "Rinunce e nomine, 21.09.2018" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2018.