Peter Bryan Wells

Peter Bryan Wells (born May 12, 1963)[1] is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who has spent his career in the diplomatic service of the Holy See. He has worked in Rome in the administration of the Secretariat of State and in foreign postings. He has been an archbishop and a nuncio since 2016[2].

The Most Reverend

Peter Bryan Wells
Titular Archbishop of Marcianopolis
Apostolic Nuncio to Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, and Swaziland
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
SeeMarcianopolis
AppointedFebruary 9, 2016
by Pope Francis
Orders
OrdinationJuly 12, 1991
ConsecrationMarch 19, 2016
by Pope Francis
Personal details
Born (1963-05-12) May 12, 1963
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Coat of arms

Early years

Wells was born the first of five children in Tulsa, Oklahoma[3] He completed his studies in philosophy at St. Meinrad Seminary College in Indiana. He completed his studies in theology at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He was ordained a priest on July 12, 1991 for the Diocese of Tulsa[4].

In 1990, he obtained a baccalaureate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University and a licentiate in theology at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in 1992.

He received a licentiate and a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1998 and 1999. At the same time he was a student at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy.[5]

After his ordination, Wells worked as a curate at Holy Family Cathedral in Tulsa, special secretary to the Bishop of Tulsa, and vicar for religious education in the diocese[6].

Diplomatic service

Wells entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on July 1, 1999, working in the apostolic nunciature in Nigeria and, beginning in 2002, in the Section for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State. He was appointed to head the English-language desk in 2006.[7] Besides his native English, he speaks Italian, French, German and Spanish.

He was named assessor on July 16, 2009.[8] Speaking about his work as assessor of general affairs, Wells said that the role of papal diplomacy was to allow Pope Francis and his representatives to "have the ability to act freely in the world" and not be "impeded in their ministry," especially in reaching out to the most marginalized.[9]

Pope Francis named Wells secretary of the five-member Pontifical Commission responsible for investigating the Institute for the Works of Religion in 2013.[10][lower-alpha 1] Wells also served as president of the Holy See's Financial Security Committee.[9]

On February 9, 2016 Wells was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to South Africa and Botswana and titular Archbishop of Marcianopolis.[8] On February 13, he was also named apostolic nuncio to Lesotho and Namibia.[11] He was consecrated a bishop on March 19, 2016 by Pope Francis.[12] On June 13, 2016 he was also appointed apostolic nuncio to Swaziland.[13]

Notes
  1. Other members of the commission included Cardinal Raffaele Farina as commission president, Bishop Juan Ignacio Arrieta Ochoa de Chinchetru, who served as the coordinator, and Mary Ann Glendon.

References
  1. Harris, Elise. "High-ranking American in Vatican 'humbled' by appointment as nuncio". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  2. "Meet the Man Who Could Be the First American Pope". OZY. September 17, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  3. "Pope appoints American Msgr. Peter Wells as nuncio to South Africa and Botswana". America Magazine. February 9, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  4. "Archbishop Peter Bryan Wells [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  5. "Pontificia Accademia Ecclesiastica, Ex-alunni 1950 – 1999" (in Italian). Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  6. Writer, BILL SHERMAN Faith and Values. "Tulsa native is Vatican's 'go-to-guy' for English-speaking world". Tulsa World. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  7. Allen Jr., John L. (August 16, 2013). "An American makes the pope's lineup; Christians in Syria and Egypt". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  8. "Rinunce e Nomine, 09.02.2006" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. February 9, 2006. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  9. Glatz, Carol (October 18, 2013). "Pope's chief of staff gives behind-the-scenes talk on media, reform". Catholic News Service. Archived from the original on February 5, 2014.
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. "Rinunce e Nomine, 13.02.2006" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. February 23, 2006. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  12. NULL (March 21, 2016). "Bishops Should Never Be Too Busy for Their Priests, Says Pope". ZENIT - English. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  13. "Rinunce e Nomine, 13.06.2006" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. June 13, 2006. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Gabriele Giordano Caccia		 Assessor for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State
July 16, 2009 – February 9, 2016		 Succeeded by
Paolo Borgia
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Mario Roberto Cassari		 Apostolic Nuncio to South Africa
February 9, 2016 – present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Mario Roberto Cassari		 Apostolic Nuncio to Botswana
February 9, 2016 – present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Mario Roberto Cassari		 Apostolic Nuncio to Swaziland
June 13, 2016 – present		 Incumbent
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