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Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the apostolic nuncio to the United States for more than five years, died tonight, apparently from complications of lung surgery performed approximately three weeks earlier. Last Friday, the nunciature announced that the archbishop had been “placed on assisted ventilation to attempt recovery of his lung function” after undergoing “a delicate lung surgery two weeks ago.” Archbishop Sambi was 73. A veteran Vatican diplomat, Archbishop Sambi was named as papal nuncio to the U.S. by Pope Benedict XVI in December 2005. At the time of his appointment he was the Vatican’s representative to Israel and Palestine, where he...

Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S. Washington D.C., Jul 26, 2011 / 02:02 am (CNA).- Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Pope’s diplomatic representative to the U.S., has been placed on a ventilator following  “delicate lung surgery” two weeks ago, the nunciature in Washington, D.C. announced July 22. The nunciature cited “post-surgery complications,” in the announcement, adding that the 73 year-old archbishop has been placed on assisted ventilation “to attempt recovery of his lung function.”Don Clemmer, assistant director of media relations at the U.S. bishops' conference, told CNA on July 25 that the nunciature's statement is the only...

The Apostolic Nuncio to the USA is gravely ill.  I suggest prayer for him and his family.From the CNS blog: Vatican ambassador to U.S. on ‘assisted ventilation’ Posted on July 22, 2011 by Jim LackeyUPDATED  7/23 By Julie Asher Catholic News ServiceArchbishop Pietro Sambi, papal nuncio to the United States, “has been placed on assisted ventilation” since experiencing complications after he underwent “a delicate lung surgery” two weeks ago, according to the apostolic nunciature in Washington.The ventilation is necessary “to attempt recovery of his lung function,” the nunciature said in an announcement released in the early evening July 22.“The apostolic...

Pope appoints new US ambassador VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict on Saturday appointed the Vatican's former ambassador to Israel and the Palestinian territories to be its ambassador in the United States. Archbishop Pietro Sambi will replace Gabriel Montalvo who has retired as Apostolic Nuncio, the Vatican's title for an ambassador, the Vatican said in a statement. Since sex abuse scandals in 2002 involving U.S. clergy, one of the key jobs of the ambassador to the United States has been to keep track of reforms implemented by the U.S. Roman Catholic Church.

We said that Archbishop Sambi had been Nuncio in England. This is inaccurate. Archbishop Sambi has worked all over the world in some very interesting and sensitive posts: [quote] He was transferred to the Apostolic Nunciature in Jerusalem on July 19, 1971, and subsequently to the Apostolic Nunciatures in Cuba in 1974, in Algeria in 1978, in Nicaragua in 1979, in Belgium in 1981, and then in India in May, 1984 with the rank of Counselor. Archbishop Sambi was consecrated as Bishop and made Titular Archbishop of Belcastro on November 9, 1985. He was nominated Pro-Apostolic Nuncio in Burundi on...

Archbishop Viganò, current Secretary of the Governorate, has agreed to become apostolic nuncio to the United States replacing Pietro Sambi, who will be recalled to Rome Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, current Secretary of the Governorate of Vatican City, has agreed to become apostolic nuncio in the United States, replacing Pietro Sambi who has been called back to Rome to cover a Cardinal assignment. So, after months of tension and conflict, the turnover revealed three weeks ago by Vatican Insider has been decided. Viganò, in less than two years, has introduced better coordination of management tools, creating an office of Management...