Bethlehem University Announces New Chancellor
7 April 2006

Archbishop Antonio Franco
Chancellor of Bethlehem University
Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine
Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and Cyprus

Brother Daniel Casey, FSC, Vice Chancellor, announced today the appointment of Archbishop Antonio Franco as Chancellor of Bethlehem University. His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI appointed Archbishop Antonio Franco Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine and Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and Cyprus in January 2006 and by right of office as the Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine, Archbishop Franco assumes the role of Chancellor of Bethlehem University. In his role as Chancellor, Archbishop Franco is the direct representative of the Holy See regarding University matters and chief advisor to Brother Daniel.

Having served as the Apostolic Nuncio in the Philippines since 1999, Archbishop Franco is very familiar with the educational work of the De La Salle University system in the Republic of the Philippines. Reflecting on Archbishop Franco’s appointment, Brother Daniel said, “ Bethlehem University is most fortunate to have Archbishop Antonio Franco as Chancellor. The wealth of his international experience and pastoral leadership will be of immeasurable benefit to the students, faculty, staff and alumni of Bethlehem University, the only Lasallian University in the Middle East.”

Prior to his appointment as Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine and Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and Cyprus, Archbishop Franco served in a variety of Papal Diplomatic Missions in Philippines, Bolivia, Iran, France, and in the Vatican’s Secretariat of State where he was closely involved in church affairs in Eastern Europe. He also served as the Papal Permanent Representative at the United Nations in New York. Archbishop Franco was born in Puglianello, Italy and ordained priest on 10 July 1960. Before entering the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See, he earned a degree in Theology and Canon Law from the Lateran in Rome .

Archbishop Franco succeeds Archbishop Pietro Sambi who was appointed Papal Nuncio to the United States of America by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on 17 December 2005. An official ceremony to welcome Archbishop Franco will be held at Bethlehem University in May 2006.