Eugene Nugent

Eugene Martin Nugent (born 21 October 1958) is an Irish prelate of the Catholic Church who was appointed the Apostolic Nuncio to Kuwait and Qatar in January 2021. He has worked in the diplomatic service of the Holy See since 1992 and spent ten of those years in Hong Kong.

Styles of Eugene Nugent
Reference style	The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Archbishop

Biography

Nugent was born in Gurtaderra Scariff County Clare, Ireland, on 21 October 1958.[1]

He attended Clonusker National School and Scariff Community College. He studied for the priesthood in St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, where he received a B.A. in Celtic Studies from the NUI). He attended the Pontifical Irish College in Rome, earning his Baccalaureate in Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University.

He was ordained a priest on 9 July 1983 and incardinated in the Diocese of Killaloe.[1]

He completed a Licentiate in canon law after ordination. He was a curate in Ennis from 1984 to 1987.

From 1988 to 1991, he worked in Rome in the Section for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State. To prepare for a career in the diplomatic service, he entered the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in 1991.[2] He earned his doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1992.

He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 1 July 1992. His first assignments were in Turkey, Jerusalem, and the Philippines.[1]

From 2001 to 2010 Nugent headed the Holy See Study Mission in Hong Kong, succeeding Archbishop Fernando Filoni.[3] During this time he had responsibility for communications between the Chinese dioceses and the Vatican.[4] His access to mainland China was restricted and contact with Catholic communities in China often maintained in secret.[5][6][lower-alpha 1]

On 13 February 2010, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Apostolic Nuncio to Madagascar, Apostolic Delegate to the Comoros, and Titular Archbishop of Dunshaughlin, County Meath, Ireland.[1] On 13 March 2010, he was named Apostolic Delegate to Mauritius and Seychelles as well.[7] Nugent was consecrated a bishop in Rome on 18 March 2010 by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State.[5] As his episcopal motto he chose "Quodcumque dixerit facite" (Do whatever he says), taken from the Gospel of St John 2:5.[8]

On 10 January 2015, Pope Francis named him Apostolic Nuncio to Haiti.[9]

On 7 January 2021, Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Nuncio in Kuwait and in Qatar.[10]

Notes

1. His decade in Hong Kong was not mentioned in the biography published by the Holy See Press Office when it announced his appointment as archbishop and nuncio in 2010.[1]

References

1. "Rinunce e Nomine, 13.02.2010" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 13 February 2010.
2. "Pontificia Accademia Ecclesiastica, Ex-alunni 1950 – 1999" (in Italian). Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
3. Lam, Annie (22 February 2010). "Mgr Nugent: Would like to visit each China bishop in communion with the Pope". Asia News. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
4. "New Vatican representative to handle relations with Chinese dioceses". Catholic Culture. 2 March 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
5. Lam, Annie (22 March 2010). "Mgr. Nugent ordained Archbishop: "He bore the suffering of the Chinese Church"". Asia News. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
6. Charbonnier, Jean (2007). Christians in China: A.D. 600 to 2000. Ignatius Press. p. 537. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
7. "Rinunce e Nomine, 13.03.2010" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 13 March 2010.
8. Coat of Arms of Archbishop Eugene Martin Nugent – Titular Archbishop of Domnach Sechnaill
9. "Rinunce e Nomine, 10.01.2015" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 10 January 2015.
10. "Rinunce e nomine, 07.01.2021" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.