By Abouna.org
Archbishop Alberto Ortega Martin, who had been appointed by Pope Francis as apostolic nuncio to Jordan and Iraq, arrived at Queen Rania International Conference in Amman on Sunday October 1. He succeeds Archbishop Giorgio Lingua, who was transferred to the post of apostolic nuncio to Cuba.
The new apostolic nuncio, who received a tumultuous welcome upon arrival, was welcomed at the airport by Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan Archbishop Maroun Lahham, Bishop Salim Sayegh, Bishop Yasir Ayyash, Adviser at the Apostolic Nunciature in Amman Mgr. Roberto Cona, Director of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media (CCSM) in Amman Fr. Rif’at Bader, Regional Director of the Rosary Sisters Sister Madeline Dababneh, Apostolic Nunciature employees, priests, nuns and people from various parts of Jordan.
Mgr. Ortega Martin was born in Madrid 52 years ago and was ordained priest on April 28, 1990. He holds a degree in Canon Law, and joined the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1997. He subsequently served in the nunciatures of Nicaragua, South Africa, Lebanon and in the Secretariat of State’s Section for Relations with States. He speaks Spanish, French, English and Italian.
CCSM Director Fr. Rif’at Bader had earlier referred to naming Monsignor Alberto Ortega Martin as apostolic nuncio to Jordan noting that “the diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan were established in 1994, and that the bilateral relations reached their climax of cordiality whereby Jordan has so far been visited by four popes.”
The new apostolic nuncio is scheduled to present his credentials to the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates to be later presented to His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein.