Following is the text of the communiqué issued by Bishop Paolo Martini on naming Archbishop Nicolas Henry Marie Denis Thevenin as the first apostolic nuncio to Oman:

It is my joy to inform that the Holy Father has appointed the First Apostolic Nuncio to the Sultanate of Oman, His Excellency Archbishop Nicolas Henry Marie Denis Thevenin, Titular Archbishop of Æclanum. 

His Excellency Msgr. Thevenin is born in Saint-Dizier, France, on 5 June 1958. Ordained priest on 4 July 1989, incardinated in the Archdiocese of Genova, Italy, Archbishop Thevenin holds a doctorate in Canon Law.

 He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 1 July 1994, and has served the diplomatic missions of the Holy See in India, Democratic Republic of Congo, Belgium, Lebanon, Cuba, Bulgaria and worked at the Secretariat of State of the Holy See in the section dealing with the Relationship with States. Monsignor Thevenin was named Titular Archbishop of Æclanum and Apostolic Nuncio on 15 December 2012.

On 5 January 2013, he was named Apostolic Nuncio to Guatemala. On 6 January 2013, Monsignor Thevenin was ordained Bishop by Pope Benedict XVI in St Peter’s Basilica. On 4 November 2019, the Holy Father appointed Archbishop Thevenin as the Nuncio to Egypt and the delegate of the Holy See to the League of the Arab States. Holy Father Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Thevenin as the First Apostolic Nuncio to the Sultanate of Oman on this day. In addition, Archbishop Thevenin will also continue his responsibilities as Nuncio in Egypt and will have his residence there. Archbishop Thevenin can speak in English, Italian, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish. 

On behalf of the clergy, religious and the people of God of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, I extend a warm welcome to His Excellency Archbishop Nicolas Henry Marie Denis Thevenin, to his mission for the Church of the migrants and promise my prayerful support to his added responsibility.


Bishop Paolo Martinelli OFM Cap.
Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia