This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS VATICAN 006433 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI); EUR/CACEN 
 
FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 200/01 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
 
TAGS: PINR PREL AM GG VT
SUBJECT: BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION FOR CLAUDIO GUGEROTTI - 
NEW VATICAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA AND GEORGIA 
 
¶1.   THE POPE HAS APPOINTED ITALIAN-BORN VATICAN OFFICIAL, 
MONSIGNOR CLAUDIO GUGEROTTI, AS NUNCIO (AMBASSADOR) IN 
ARMENIA AND GEORGIA. GUGEROTTI IS CURRENTLY UNDER-SECRETARY 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        VATICA  06433  121437Z 
(NUMBER THREE) AT THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR THE EASTERN 
CHURCHES. HE WAS BORN IN VERONA, ITALY IN 1955 AND ORDAINED 
A PRIEST IN 1982. MONSIGNOR GUGEROTTI HOLDS A DOCTORAL 
DEGREE IN ORIENTAL LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE AND A MASTERS 
DEGREE IN LITURGY. HE HAS TAUGHT PATRISTICS, THEOLOGY AND 
EASTERN RITE LITURGY AT UNIVERSITY LEVEL.  GUGEROTTI ENTERED 
THE VATICAN'S CIVIL SERVICE IN 1985, WORKING EXCLUSIVELY 
SINCE THEN FOR THE CONGREGATION FOR THE EASTERN CHURCH. HE 
BECAME UNDER-SECRETARY IN 1997. AS WELL AS HIS NATIVE 
ITALIAN, GUGEROTTI SPEAKS FRENCH, ENGLISH, LATIN, GREEK, 
CLASSICAL AND MODERN ARMENIAN, AND KURDISH.  MONSIGNOR 
GUGEROTTI WILL BE ORDAINED AN ARCHBISHOP PRIOR TO TAKING UP 
HIS APPOINTMENT. 
 
¶2.   COMMENT: GUGEROTTI IS A RISING STAR IN THE VATICAN 
CIVIL SERVICE. HE IS A PROTQGQ OF THE FORMER PREFECT OF THE 
CONGREGATION FOR THE EASTERN CHURCHES, CARDINAL ACHILLE 
SILVESTRINI. GUGEROTTI IS URBANE AND EXTREMELY INTELLIGENT, 
SPEAKING HIS ENGLISH WITH A MARKED BRITISH ACCENT. HE HAS 
TRAVELED OFTEN TO EASTERN EUROPE AND THE NEAR EAST IN THE 
SERVICE OF THE VATICAN AND IS A WELL-KNOWN FIGURE IN 
ARMENIAN AND GEORGIAN CHURCH CIRCLES, BOTH CATHOLIC AND 
ORTHODOX. IT IS UNUSUAL FOR A NON-CAREER VATICAN DIPLOMAT TO 
BE APPOINTED AS NUNCIO IN SUCH A STRATEGIC GEOGRAPHICAL 
AREA. GUGEROTTI AT 46 IS ALSO VERY YOUNG, ANOTHER TESTIMONY 
TO THE ESTEEM IN WHICH BOTH THE POPE AND SENIOR VATICAN 
OFFICIALS HOLD HIM. WITH THE CONSTANTLY EXPRESSED VATICAN 
HOPE FOR UNITY BETWEEN ROME AND THE ORTHODOX CHURCHES, 
GUGEROTTI'S APPOINTMENT AS AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA IN 
PARTICULAR AUGURS WELL FOR BRIGHTER, IF NOT POSITIVELY 
EFFERVESCENT ECUMENICAL RELATIONS WITH THE CONSEQUENT 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        VATICA  06433  121437Z 
ECCLESIASTICAL AND GEOPOLITICAL IMPLICATIONS. WATCH THIS 
SPACE. END COMMENT. NICHOLSON 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
> 
 

 2001VATICA06433 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED