Peter_Bryan_Wells

Peter Bryan Wells

Peter Bryan Wells

American prelate of the Catholic Church (born 1963)

Peter Bryan Wells (born May 12, 1963[1]) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who has spent most of his career in the diplomatic service of the Holy See. He has worked in Rome in the administration of the Secretariat of State and in foreign postings. He has been an archbishop and a nuncio since 2016.[2]

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Biography

Early years

Wells was born the first of five children in Tulsa, Oklahoma.[3] He completed his studies in philosophy at St. Meinrad Seminary College in Saint Meinrad, Indiana. He completed his studies in theology at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. In 1990, he obtained a Bachelor of Theology degree from the Pontifical Gregorian University.

Priesthood

Wells was ordained a priest on July 12, 1991 for the Diocese of Tulsa.[4] After his ordination, Wells worked as a curate at Holy Family Cathedral Parish in Tulsa, special secretary to the bishop of Tulsa, and vicar for religious education in the diocese.[5] He soon returned to Rome, receiving a Licentiate of Theology at the John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in 1992. In 1998 and 1999, Wells received a Licentiate of Canon Law and a Doctor of Canon Law degree from the Gregorian University. At the same time, he was a student at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in Rome.[6]

Diplomatic service

Wells entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on July 1, 1999, working in the apostolic nunciature in Nigeria and, beginning in 2002, in the Section for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State. He was appointed to head the English-language desk in 2006.[7] Besides his native English, Wells speaks Italian, French, German and Spanish.

He was named assessor on July 16, 2009.[8] Speaking about his work as assessor of general affairs, Wells said that the role of papal diplomacy was to allow Pope Francis and his representatives to "have the ability to act freely in the world" and not be "impeded in their ministry", especially in reaching out to the most marginalized.[9]

Pope Francis named Wells secretary of the five-member Pontifical Commission that was responsible for investigating the Institute for the Works of Religion in 2013.[10][lower-alpha 1] Wells also served as president of the Holy See's Financial Security Committee.[9]

On February 9, 2016 Wells was appointed apostolic nuncio to South Africa and Botswana and titular archbishop of Marcianopolis.[8] On February 13, he was also named apostolic nuncio to Lesotho and Namibia.[11] He was consecrated a archbishop on March 19, 2016 by Pope Francis.[12] On June 13, 2016, Wells was also appointed apostolic nuncio to Eswatini.[13]

On 8 February 2023, Pope Francis appointed him as nuncio to Thailand and Cambodia and Apostolic Delegate to Laos.[14]

See also

Notes

  1. Other members of the commission included Cardinal Raffaele Farina as commission president, Bishop Juan Ignacio Arrieta Ochoa de Chinchetru, who served as the coordinator, and Mary Ann Glendon.

References

  1. [1]
    Harris, Elise. "High-ranking American in Vatican 'humbled' by appointment as nuncio". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  2. [2]
    "Meet the Man Who Could Be the First American Pope". OZY. September 17, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  3. [3]
    "Pope appoints American Msgr. Peter Wells as nuncio to South Africa and Botswana". America Magazine. February 9, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  4. [4]
    "Archbishop Peter Bryan Wells". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. February 8, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  5. [5]
    Writer, BILL SHERMAN Faith and Values. "Tulsa native is Vatican's 'go-to-guy' for English-speaking world". Tulsa World. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  6. [6]
    "Pontificia Accademia Ecclesiastica, Ex-alunni 1950 – 1999" (in Italian). Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  7. [7]
    Allen Jr., John L. (August 16, 2013). "An American makes the pope's lineup; Christians in Syria and Egypt". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  8. [8]
    "Rinunce e Nomine, 09.02.2006" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. February 9, 2006. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  9. [9]
    Glatz, Carol (October 18, 2013). "Pope's chief of staff gives behind-the-scenes talk on media, reform". Catholic News Service. Archived from the original on February 5, 2014.
  10. [10]
    "Pope sets up Pontifical Commission to study IOR reform". Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  11. [11]
    "Rinunce e Nomine, 13.02.2006" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. February 23, 2006. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  12. [12]
    NULL (March 21, 2016). "Bishops Should Never Be Too Busy for Their Priests, Says Pope". ZENIT - English. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  13. [13]
    "Rinunce e Nomine, 13.06.2006" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. June 13, 2006. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  14. [14]
    "Resignations and Appointments, 08.02.2023". Retrieved February 8, 2023.
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