The Apostolic Nuncio
His Grace
Msgr. Eugene Martin NUGENT
Titular Archbishop of Domnach Sechnaill
Apostolic Nuncio to Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar
Archbishop Eugene Nugent was born on 21 October 1958 in beautiful midwest County Clare, Ireland.
He commenced his studies for the priesthood in St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, where he received a B.A. in Celtic Studies. Thereafter he was sent to Rome to pursue his formation in Theology.
He was ordained to the priesthood on 9 July 1983 and was incardinated in the Diocese of Killaloe. He began his priestly ministry in his native diocese. He served in the Cathedral parish 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.
Having entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 1 July 1992, he served in the Apostolic Nunciatures in Turkey, Jerusalem, and in the Philippines (Hong Kong Mission).
On 13 February 2010, he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio and titular Archbishop of Domnach Sechnaill (Dunshaughlin) by Pope Benedict XVI.
He was ordained to the episcopate on 18 March 2010 at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, through the imposition of 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.
From 2010 until 2015, he was Apostolic Nuncio in Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles and Apostolic Delegate to the Comoros Island, with the functions of Apostolic Delegate in the Réunion.
On 10 January 2015, he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio in Haiti. Archbishop Nugent championed many causes during his diplomatic mission there, from the reconstruction of churches following the devastating earthquake in 2010 to facilitating a political dialogue in order to end the political crisis in the Caribbean nation.
On 7 January 2021, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Nugent as Apostolic Nuncio to Kuwait and Qatar.
He received his appointment as Apostolic Nuncio to Bahrain on 11 February 2021.
Archbishop Nugent holds a doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Besides English and Irish, he speaks French, Italian and German.