Eugene Nugent
Eugene Martin Nugent (born 21 October 1958) is an Irish prelate of the Catholic Church who was appointed the Apostolic Nuncio to Kuwait and Qatar in January 2021. He has worked in the diplomatic service of the Holy See since 1992 and spent ten of those years in Hong Kong. Early life and education. Nugent was born in Gurtaderra, Scariff, County Clare, Ireland, on 21 October 1958. He attended Clonusker National School and the local Scariff Community College. He commenced his studies for the priesthood in St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, where he received a B.A. in Celtic  Studies from the NUI), and after these undergraduate studies was sent to the Pontifical Irish College in Rome for his theological studies, earning a Baccalaureate in Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. He was ordained a priest on 9 July 1983 and incardinated in the Diocese of Killaloe. After ordination he completed a Licentiate in canon law. Priestly Ministry. Upon his return to his native diocese, Nugent was appointed curate in the county town of Ennis from 1984 to 1987. From 1988 to 1991, he worked in Rome in the Section for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State and  then in preparation for service in the diplomatic service, he entered the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in 1991. He earned his doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1992. He began his diplomatic service of the Holy See on 1 July 1992 with a first assignments in Turkey, followed soon thereafter by posts in Jerusalem, and the Philippines. From 2001 to 2010 Nugent headed the Holy See Study Mission in Hong Kong, succeeding Archbishop Fernando Filoni. During this time he had responsibility for communications between the Chinese dioceses and the Vatican. His access to mainland China was restricted  and contact with Catholic communities in China often maintained in secret. Episcopal / Nuncio Ministry. On 13 February 2010, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Apostolic Nuncio to Madagascar, Apostolic Delegate to the Comoros, and Titular Archbishop of Dunshaughlin, County Meath, Ireland. On 13 March 2010, he was named Apostolic Delegate to Mauritius and Seychelles as well. Nugent received episcopal ordination in Rome on 18 March 2010 from the hands of Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State. As his episcopal motto he chose "Quodcumque dixerit facite" (Do whatever he says), taken from the Gospel of St John 2:5. On 10 January 2015 , Pope Francis named him Apostolic Nuncio to Haiti. On 7 January 2021, Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Nuncio in Kuwait and in Qatar. On 11 February he was named Apostolic Nuncio to Bahrain as well.