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Episcopal Ordination of Archbishop José Bettencourt

On Monday, I will be in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican to participate

in the ordination of an Ottawa priest to the order of bishop.

Pope Francis chose March 19, the feast of St. Joseph—to whom he has

a personal devotion—and the fifth anniversary of his papal ministry, as

the occasion to consecrate Msgr. José Bettencourt for the office of

Apostolic Nuncio to the nations of Georgia and Armenia.

A nuncio—sometimes called a papal nuncio—is an ecclesiastical

diplomat, an envoy of the Holy See to a state or an international

organization. Nuncios head up diplomatic missions, called an Apostolic

Nunciature, the equivalent of an embassy.

In addition, the nuncio serves as the liaison between the Holy See and

the Church in a particular nation, dialoguing with the national body of

bishops. He also consults the local churches concerning the selection of

bishops.

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Since early 2014, Canada’s Ottawa-based Apostolic Nuncio has been

Archbishop Luigi Bonazzi.

Archbishop-elect Bettencourt was born in Velas, in the Portuguese

Azores, on May 23, 1962. He immigrated to Ottawa with his parents as

a child and attended elementary and secondary school here. His

widowed mother, younger brother, and his family live near the Ottawa

Portuguese parish Senhor Santo Cristo.

After graduating from the University of Ottawa, Bettencourt studied

theology at Dominican University College and Saint Paul University.

Archbishop Marcel Gervais ordained him a priest in 1993.

After serving in his home parish and Holy Redeemer Parish, he

attended the Vatican’s Diplomatic Academy, gaining a doctorate in

Canon Law at the Gregorian University in Rome. He served as secretary

to the Apostolic Nunciature in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

during a civil war. He then returned to Rome to serve in the Secretariat

of State section for Relations with States in 2002.

In 2012, Pope Benedict named Msgr. Bettencourt Head of Protocol. He

welcomed visiting political leaders and dealt with diplomats accredited

to the Vatican. He speaks English, French, Portuguese, Italian, and

Spanish.

Over his twenty years in diplomatic work, he has remained close to his

family and to the Ottawa diocese.

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During his visits home and my visits to Rome, we have stayed

connected. I have found him to be the soul of discretion. He observes

and understands the complexity of the Church’s relation to the wider

world. Wherever he serves, that country will treasure his presence.

About his recent posting, Bettencourt says, “I am really excited with my

new service to the Church.”

“First, and foremost, I am a priest like any other who has been asked to

render a particular kind of service to the Church—as a diplomat.”

He compares his ministry to that of a military or university chaplain,

describing it as “a service to the people no matter what race, creed or

colour—yet remaining faithful to the Catholic Church.”

“A nuncio collaborates with the local Church, at times giving a voice to

those without a voice, suffice it to consider the Church’s role in Syria,

the Central African Republic, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic

of the Congo amongst others,” Bettencourt said. “He concerns himself

with the unity of the Church and its particular role and contribution to

society, health care, education and social outreach.”

Pope Francis invites the bishops whom he ordains to emulate St.

Joseph, who is also the patron saint of Canada, patron of the

Archdiocese of Ottawa, and the patron for Archbishop-elect José. It

should be an auspicious celebration and glorious occasion. “Ad multos

annos!” is the appropriate wish: may you have many happy and grace-

filled years of episcopal service!