Fernando Filoni

His Eminence Fernando Filoni J.C.D., PhD
Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
Delivery of the honorary citizenship of the town of Galatone to Archbishop Fernando Filoni (2007)
See	Volturnum (titular see)
Appointed	10 May 2011
Predecessor	Ivan Dias
Other posts	President of the Interdicasterial Commission for Consecrated Religious Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Urbaniana University Cardinal-Deacon of Nostra Signora di Coromoto in San Giovanni di Dio
Orders
Ordination	3 July 1979 by Antonio Rosario Mennonna
Consecration	19 March 2001 by John Paul II assisted by Angelo Sodano and Giovanni Battista Re
Created Cardinal	18 February 2012 by Benedict XVI
Rank	Cardinal-Deacon
Personal details
Birth name	Fernando Filoni
Born	(1946-04-15) 15 April 1946 (age 70) Manduria, Italy
Nationality	Italian
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Previous post	Apostolic Nuncio to Iraq (2001–2006) Apostolic Nuncio to Jordan (2001–2006) Apostolic Nuncio to Philippines (2006–2007) Substitute of the Secretariat of State (2007–2011)
Alma mater	Pontifical Lateran University
Motto	Lumen Gentium Christus (Christ, Light of the nations)
Coat of arms

Styles of Fernando Filoni
Reference style	His Eminence
Spoken style	Your Eminence
Informal style	Cardinal

Fernando Filoni (born 15 April 1946) is a Cardinal of the Catholic Church and Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in the Roman Curia since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 10 May 2011. Cardinal Filoni is an expert in Chinese affairs and on the Middle East.

Filoni was born near Taranto, Italy. He entered the seminary and earned doctorates in Philosophy and in Canon Law from the Pontifical Lateran University. He was ordained a priest on 3 July 1970. He served in the Nunciatures of Sri Lanka from 1982 until 1983, Iran from 1983–1985, Brazil from 1989–1992 and the Philippines from 1992 until 2001. Although formally assigned to the Apostolic Nunciature to the Philippines, he was based in Hong Kong. During this time Archbishop Filoni was Pope John Paul II’s bridge to China's bishops, official and non-official Churches and bishops, in the hope of reconciling them to the Holy See.

Pope John Paul II appointed Father Filoni apostolic nuncio to Iraq and Jordan on 17 January 2001, naming him titular Archbishop of Volturnum. He received episcopal consecration from Pope John Paul II on 19 March 2001.