Bernardito Cleopas Auza (born June 10, 1959) is a Filipino prelate of the Catholic Church who has served in the diplomatic service of the Holy See since 1990. He holds the rank of archbishop and has held various apostolic nunciature assignments. He is currently the Apostolic Nuncio to Spain and Andorra.
Early Life and Education
Bernardito Auza was born in Balangiga, Eastern Samar, Philippines. He completed his philosophical and theological studies at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, where he earned a master's degree in theology and a licentiate in philosophy. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Borongan on June 29, 1985.After his ordination, he pursued further studies in Rome. He attended the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, where diplomats of the Holy See are trained, and also earned a doctorate in sacred theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum).
Diplomatic Service
Auza entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on June 1, 1990. His early assignments included postings to the Holy See's diplomatic missions in Madagascar, Bulgaria, Albania, the General Secretariat of State in the Vatican, and finally, the Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York.On May 8, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Titular Archbishop of Suacia and Apostolic Nuncio to Haiti. He received his episcopal consecration on July 3, 2008, from Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. During his tenure in Haiti, he played a crucial role in the Church's response to the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake.
On July 16, 2014, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Auza as the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York and the Permanent Observer to the Organization of American States (OAS). In this role, he represented the Holy See's positions on a wide range of international issues, including human rights, peace, sustainable development, and interreligious dialogue, addressing the UN General Assembly and other bodies.
On October 1, 2019, Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Nuncio to Spain and Andorra. He presented his credentials to King Felipe VI of Spain on January 21, 2020.