Vatican City, 3 May 2016 – The Holy Father has appointed Msgr. Kurian Mathew Vayalunkal, nunciature counsellor, as apostolic nuncio in Papua New Guinea, elevating him to the dignity of archbishop. The archbishop-elect was born in Vadavathoor, India in 1966 and ordained a priest in 1991. He holds a degree in canon law and has served in the diplomatic service of the Holy See since 1998, in the papal representations in Guinea, Korea, the Dominican Republic, Bangladesh, Hungary and Egypt.