Michael Wallace Banach (born November 19, 1962) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who has worked in the diplomatic service of the Holy See since 1994. He has been apostolic nuncio to Hungary since May 2022. He has served as an observer at a United Nations agency and as apostolic nuncio to several nations in Asia and Africa.


Michael Wallace Banach
Apostolic Nuncio to Hungary
AppointedMay 3, 2022
PredecessorMichael August Blume
Other post(s)Titular Archbishop of Memphis
Orders
OrdinationJuly 2, 1988
by Timothy Joseph Harrington
ConsecrationApril 27, 2013
by Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone
Personal details
Born (1962-11-19) November 19, 1962 (age 61)
DenominationRoman Catholic
Previous post(s)
MottoHumanitate Et Caritate
(Humanity and charity)
Styles of
Michael Wallace Banach
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleArchbishop

Biography edit

Michael Wallace Banach was born on November 19, 1962, in Worcester, Massachusetts. He was ordained on July 2, 1988, by Bishop Timothy Harrington as a priest for the Diocese of Worcester. In 1992, Banach completed his preparation for a diplomatic career for the Holy See at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in Rome.[1] He joined the diplomatic service of the Holy See on July 1, 1994, and fulfilled assignments in the nunciatures in Bolivia and Nigeria as well as in Rome in the Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State.[2]

On January 22, 2007 Banach was appointed as permanent observer of the Holy See at the United Nations Office at Vienna and United Nations Industrial Development Organization and as permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in Vienna.[2]

On February 22, 2013, Pope Benedict XVI named Banach titular archbishop of Memphis and gave him the title apostolic nuncio.[3][4] On April 16, 2013, Pope Francis appointed him as apostolic nuncio to Papua New Guinea.[5][6] Banach received his episcopal consecration from Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone on April 27, 2013, in Rome. His co-consecrators were Cardinals Marc Ouellet and Fernando Filoni. He was given additional titles over the next few years: on May 18, 2013, apostolic nuncio to the Solomon Islands;[7] on March 19, 2016, apostolic nuncio to Senegal and apostolic delegate to Mauritania;[8] on July 9, 2016, apostolic nuncio to Cabo Verde;[9] on August 22, 2016, apostolic nuncio to Guinea-Bissau.[10] On May 13, 2017, his title in Mauritania changed from apostolic delegate to apostolic nuncio.[11]

On May 3, 2022, he was appointed apostolic nuncio to Hungary.[12]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Pontificia Accademia Ecclesiastica, Ex-alunni 1950 – 1999" (in Italian). Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Rinunce e Nomine, 22.01.2007" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. January 22, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  3. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 22.02.2013" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. February 22, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  4. ^ "Pope names Worcester's Msgr. Banach, longtime US Vatican diplomat, to be apostolic nuncio". catholicfreepress.org. February 22, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  5. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 16.04.2013" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. April 16, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  6. ^ Kush, Bronislaus B. (April 16, 2013). "Archbishop Michael Banach, Worcester native, gets new post". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  7. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 18.05.2013" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. May 18, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  8. ^ "Rinunce e nomine, 19.03.2016" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. March 19, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  9. ^ "Other Pontifical Acts, 22.08.2016" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. July 9, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  10. ^ "Rinunce e nomine, 22.08.2016" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. August 22, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  11. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 13.05.2017" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. May 13, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  12. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 03.05.2022" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. May 3, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2022.

External links edit