Apostolic Nunciature to the Philippines

When the Philippines was caught in World War II following the commencement of the Japanese Invasion of East Asia, communication between the Holy See and the Philippine Delegation (Msgr. Guglielnao Piani, SDB), or any of the other delegations of the region, was not permitted. However, the Apostolic Delegation in Tokyo (Msgr. Paolo Marella) was permitted to communicate with the censored delegations.[1]

In 1943, the Second Philippine Republic was inaugurated. In a letter dated October 14, 1943 (the day of the inauguration), the newly elected President of the puppet government, Jose P. Laurel, wrote to Luigi Cardinal Maglione, the Vatican Secretary of State:[2]

I have the honor to inform your excellency that of october fourteenth nineteen hundred and forty three the Philippines proclaimed her independence and declared herself a sovereign nation and organised a Government republican in form.' In comunicating [sic] the foregoing to your excellency, I desire to take advantage of the opportunity to express my sincere desire that there shall exist between the two countries the most cordial relation of amity and friendship. With the assurance your excellency of my most distinguished consideration.

Although, Cardinal Maglione received the telegram, he told the Japanese Ambassador to the Holy See, Ken Harada, that as long as the war continues, the Holy See will not recognize any new states, including the new Philippine Republic.[3] Harada acknowledged the Holy See's decision and did not pursue the matter further.[3] Later, Cardinal Maglione directed Msgr. Piani, through Msgr. Marella, to continue to pursue and protect the interests of the Catholic religion in the country. He added that the local bishops are permitted to deal with local ecclesiastical affairs as long as they are not diplomatic in character. However, they could, if necessary, appeal to the authorities on affairs that are purely ecclesiastical.[4]

The Apostolic Delegation helped clear up a misunderstanding that Msgr. Paul Taguchi, Archbishop of Osaka, visited Manila not to supplant the authority of the Archbishop of Manila but to establish contacts with the Catholics of that city.[5]

Rumors were also spreading that Pope Pius XII personally communicated a telegram to Laurel. Maglione clarified via a letter to the Apostolic Delegate in London that since the Holy See did not recognize any new states for the duration of the war, no such telegram was ever sent.[6]

In 1900 a Papal Legation with the rank of Apostolic Delegation in the Philippines was established.

• Placide Louis Chapelle (1900 - 1901)
• Donato Sbarretti (16 September 1901 - 26 December 1902, appointed Apostolic Delegate to Canada)
• Giovanni Battista Guidi (1902 - 27 June 1904, died in office)
• Ambrose Agius, O.S.B. (24 August 1904 - 13 December 1911, died in office)
• Giuseppe Petrelli (30 May 1915 – 27 May 1921, appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Peru)
• Guglielmo Piani, S.D.B. (17 March 1922 - 5 October 1948, appointed Official to México)
• Egidio Vagnozzi (9 March 1949 - 9 August 1951)

There have been seven Apostolic Delegates of the Philippines, until the Vatican promoted the Papal Legation in the Philippines to the status of Apostolic Nunciature on August 9, 1951.

Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, Apostolic Nuncio in the Philippines (3 September 2007 - 22 February 2011)

• Egidio Vagnozzi (9 August 1951 - 16 December 1958)
• Salvatore Siino (14 March 1959 - 8 October 1963)
• Carlo Martini (29 November 1963 - 5 August 1967)
• Carmine Rocco (16 September 1967 - 22 May 1973)
• Bruno Torpigliani (6 June 1973[7] - April 1990, retired)
• Gian Vincenzo Moreni (8 September 1990 - 3 March 1999)
• Antonio Franco (6 April 1999 - 21 January 2006)
• Fernando Filoni (25 February 2006[8] - 9 June 2007)
• Edward Joseph Adams (3 September 2007 - 22 February 2011)
• Giuseppe Pinto (10 May 2011[9] – 1 July 2017)[10]
• Gabriele Giordano Caccia (12 September 2017[11] – 16 November 2019)[12]