Leopoldo Girelli

Leopoldo Girelli (born 13 March 1953) is an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church who serves as the apostolic nuncio to Croatia. He was nuncio to Israel and Cyprus, India and Nepal as well as apostolic delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine from 2017 to 2021. He has worked in the diplomatic service of the Holy See since 1987 and previously served as nuncio to Indonesia, East Timor, and Singapore.

Biography Girelli was born in Predore, Province of Bergamo, Italy, on 13 March 1953.

He was ordained a priest on 17 June 1978 and incardinated in the diocese of Bergamo. He graduated in theology.

Diplomatic career He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 13 July 1987 and worked in the papal diplomatic missions in Cameroon and New Zealand at the Section for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, and finally in the Apostolic Nunciature to the United States where he held the rank of Counsellor. He was consecrated bishop on 17 June, with Cardinal Angelo Sodano as principal consecrator. On 10 October 2006, he was appointed apostolic nuncio to East Timor in addition to his duties as nuncio to Indonesia.

On 13 January 2011, he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Singapore, Apostolic Delegate to Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam, and non-residential papal representative for Vietnam. He was the first papal representative appointed for Vietnam since the expulsion of the resident Apostolic Delegate in 1975. On 18 June 2011 Girelli was also appointed Apostolic Nuncio to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); he was the first to hold that title. On 16 January 2013, he was replaced as representative to Malaysia, Brunei, and East Timor, while continuing in his posts in Singapore, Vietnam, and the ASEAN.

On 13 September 2017, Pope Francis appointed Girelli Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine. Two days later, Girelli was also appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Cyprus.

On 13 March 2021, Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Nuncio to India and added the title of Apostolic Nuncio to Nepal on 13 September of that year.

On 13 March 2026, Pope Leo XIV appointed him as nuncio to Croatia.