His Excellency Monsignor Gabriele Giordano Caccia, titular archbishop of Sepino and the new papal nuncio to the Philippines. File photo from CNA via CBCP News

MANILA - The new papal nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia arrived in Manila on Friday, according to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

The prelate was welcomed at the NAIA by top Filipino Church officials led by Manila Archbishop Emeritus Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and incoming CBCP President Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles.

Caccia's appointment was announced by the Vatican last September.

Caccia, who previously served as the papal nuncio to Lebanon, will replace Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto, who served in the Philippines for six years before he was transferred to Croatia in July this year.

The archbishop's appointment to the Philippines is his second as an ecclesiastical diplomat.

A native of Milan, Caccia was ordained to the priesthood on June 11, 1983. He was ordained as archbishop on September 2009.

Before serving as papal nuncio to Lebanon, Caccia served as assessor for general affairs of the Secretariat of the Vatican City State.

A papal nuncio, officially called the apostolic nuncio, serves as the pope's ambassador.

By custom, the papal nuncio in the Philippines also seats as the dean of the diplomatic corps.

