Vatican city: The Holy See has announced the appointment of Archbishop Luigi Roberto Cona as Apostolic Nuncio to Syria. The new Nuncio previously served as Apostolic Delegate to El Salvador and before that as a consultant in the Vatican Secretariat of State.

According to National News Agency - Lebanon, with this appointment, Archbishop Cona assumes the duties previously held by Cardinal Mario Zenari in Syria for seventeen years, from 2008 until last February. Cardinal Zenari's term was extended by Pope Francis, and he later submitted his resignation to Pope Leo XVI upon reaching the mandatory retirement age.