Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Archbishop Alberto Bottari de Castello, Apostolic Nuncio to Japan, as the new nuncio to Hungary, the Vatican announced yesterday.

The 68-year-old Italian archbishop has been nuncio to Japan since 2005. That appointment was announced on April 1 2005, the day before the death of Pope John Paul II.

The Vatican diplomat, who was hails from Montebelluna in northeastern Italy and ordained a priest in September 1966, has also served as nuncio to Gambia, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

He is also titular Archbishop of Opitergium.

One of the nuncio’s last major public engagements in Japan was in April when he visited Sendai diocese to see for himself the devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami that struck northeastern Japan in March.

During his visit he celebrated Mass outside Motoderakoji Cathedral in Sendai City, during which he offered words of encouragement to victims.