From September 7 to 10, the Vatican will host the triennial meeting of Pontifical Representatives.
Apart from the Pope and the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 91 Apostolic nuncios and 6 Permanent Observers will participate. However, five Apostolic nuncios will not be able to attend due to health reasons or political unrest in their countries.
Just as the new Apostolic Constitution allows lay people to assume leadership of dicasteries, there is also a debate as to whether it is necessary for Apostolic nuncios to be clerics.
CARD. ÓSCAR R. MARADIAGA
Coordinator, Council of Cardinals
The question arises: is it necessary that nuncios be a member of the clergy? Or can it also be a lay person? That's an issue that remains unresolved.
Although the triennial meetings with Pontifical Representatives have a long history in the Vatican, in 2017, Pope Francis included a section dedicated to the nuncios to express his closeness to them.
RM
TR: KG
