Papal Nuncio leaves New Zealand for Rome after stroke, bishops express gratitude

Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa, the Apostolic Nuncio to Aotearoa New Zealand, has returned to Rome to continue his recovery from a stroke, marking the end of his diplomatic mission in the country.

The Archbishop left Wellington on March 17, accompanied by Sr Maria Ann Singer, LSP, and Fr Giosuè Busti, First Secretary-Deputy Head of Mission at the Apostolic Nunciature. He arrived in Rome the following day after a smooth journey and will continue his rehabilitation at a Catholic facility.

Auckland Bishop Stephen Lowe, president of the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference, asked Catholics to keep the Archbishop in their prayers. “It is with much sadness that we farewell Archbishop Novatus,” Bishop Lowe said. “The bishops acknowledge our deep gratitude for his services to the Church in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific. We pray for his safe travels to Rome and we invoke the prayers of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven, our New Zealand patroness, for his healing and continued wellbeing.”

During his tenure, which began in March 2019, Archbishop Rugambwa oversaw the appointment of bishops in five of the country’s six dioceses, including Bishop Lowe in Auckland, Archbishop Paul Martin SM in Wellington, Bishop Michael Gielen in Christchurch, Bishop John Adams in Palmerston North, and Bishop Richard Laurenson in Hamilton. His time in New Zealand also covered the Covid-19 pandemic, during which churches were often closed by government decree.

The Archbishop suffered a stroke in October last year and had been recovering in Wellington before his departure.

Article and image source: nzcatholic.org.nz