A third section to the Secretariat of State

The Holy Father has established a Third Section to the Secretariat of State which will be known as the Section for the Diplomatic Personnel of the Holy See, strengthening the current office of the Delegate for the Pontifical Representatives.

This new Section, which will be connected to the Secretariat of State, will be presided over by the Delegate for the Pontifical Representatives (who is currently His Excellency, Jan Romeo Pawlowski).  The third Section of the Secretariat of State will strive to demonstrate the attention and the closeness of the Holy Father and of the Superiors of the Secretariat of State to the Diplomats of the Holy See.  In this regard, the Delegate for the Pontifical Representatives will foresee regular visits to the Pontifical Representatives (Nuncios) in the various locations throughout the world where they live and exercise their ministry.

The Third Section will be exclusively concerned with questions pertaining to people working in the diplomatic service to the Holy See or those who are preparing to do so - including the selection and formation of these candidates, the conditions of their life and service, advancement, permissions, etc.

While exercising these functions, the Third Section will enjoy proper autonomy and at the same time will endeavour to work in close collaboration with the Section for General Affairs (which will continue its occupation with questions of a general nature proposed by the Pontifical Representatives) and with the Section for Relations with States (which will continue its preoccupation with political aspects of the work of the Pontifical Representatives).  In this sense, the Delegate for the Pontifical Representatives will participate, along with the Substitute for General Affairs and the Secretary for Relations with States, in the weekly coordination meetings presided over by the Secretary of State.  He will also convene and chair ad hoc meetings to prepare for the appointments of Pontifical Representatives.  Finally, he will be responsible, along with the President of the Pontifical Ecclesicastical Academy, for the selection and training of candidates.