Archbishop Charles John Brown arrived in Manila on Sunday to assume his duties as the new Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines.

The Vatican ambassador arrived at the NAIA Terminal 2 on board Philippine Airlines from his home city, New York, at around 7:20 a.m.

Brown was welcomed by Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, the Vice President of the Philippine bishops’ conference, and Bishop Jesse Mercado of Parañaque.

He was also greeted by some government officials and staff of the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila upon his arrival at the airport.

From the airport, the archbishop also prayed at the Mary, Mother of Good Counsel Parish Church in Parañaque City, his first visit to a church in the country.

Brown had become a devotee of Our Lady of Good Counsel when he was assigned in Albania, his last assignment before coming to the Philippines.

Pope Francis appointed Brown as Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines on Sept. 28, 2020.

He replaced Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, who now heads the Holy See’s Permanent Observer Mission in the United Nations in New York.

As papal envoy, he will represent the Vatican State to the Philippine government, while also playing a crucial role in representing the pope to the Catholic Church in the Philippines.

In many Catholic countries like the Philippines, the nuncio is also the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps.

The papal nuncio is expected to present his credentials to the Philippine government next month.