By Fr. Kenneth Borowiak
for the Register
In the ornately decorated Clementine Hall in Rome, Pope Leo XIV met Nov. 17 with diplomatic collaborators serving in Vatican embassies across the globe, urging them to continue to bear witness to the Church’s love for the world.
The pope has representatives – also known as nuncios – to most nations on earth. The Holy See is a sovereign entity, a nation under international law and maintains diplomatic relations with 184 nations. The Holy See arguably has the most extensive and widespread diplomatic corps in the world.
The Holy Father encouraged the ambassadors Nov. 17 to do what they can on behalf of the Church, to always be on the side of those in need. He commended the nuncios for their pastoral style and spirit of faith.
In an earlier meeting this year, June 10, Pope Leo had the opportunity to meet the diplomatic representatives for the first time. That meeting involved all the ambassadors of the Holy See throughout the world. Most are nuncios with the rank of archbishop. Others are ambassadors and heads of mission, but without episcopal dignity. This smaller group of “non-nuncios” are priests who represent the Holy See at the various United Nations and Council of Europe offices.
It was the first time most of the ambassadors had an opportunity to meet Pope Leo. Such meetings usually occur about every three years. The Jubilee Year for Hope was an added dimension for this year’s meeting.
Msgr. Richard Gyhra, a native of Pawnee City, was ordained a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln in 1999. He is the ambassador of the Holy See to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), to the International Atomic Energy Agency and to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organization and the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to other International Organizations in Vienna. He previously served the nunciature in Tanzania and the Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo. He was also secretary at the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, and was a desk officer for multilateral affairs in the Vatican’s Secretary of State. Msgr. Gyhra was part of the June 10 meeting.
During that meeting, the pope’s representatives took part in presentations led by officials in the Roman Curia, which provided updates on important issues happening within the diplomatic service and within the Roman Curia.
Msgr. Gyhra said he was edified by Pope Leo’s view of papal representatives and their role in the universal church.
“He gave a beautiful speech on the important role that Papal Representatives have in assisting the Petrine Ministry of his Holiness and therefore for the good of the Universal Church,” Msgr Gyhra said.
Msgr. Gyhra said the highlight of the meeting was the opportunity to meet Pope Leo for the first time.
“It was the first time I was able to speak with a pope in English!” he said. “I told him that I am a priest of Lincoln and his representative to the international organizations in Vienna. He thanked me for the work I do, and I assured him of my prayers for his apostolic ministry, and suggested he make a visit to the United Nations in Vienna.”
Msgr. Gyhra said many of the papal representatives were moved by the Holy Father’s comments.
“In addition to sharing very positive and encouraging words for his ambassadors, Pope Leo underscored that the work of the diplomatic service cannot be ‘substituted’ because of its unique and indispensable role. Many of us were very encouraged and impressed with his words and positive outlook, which was quite refreshing,” Msgr. Gyhra said.
