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| Fr. John Putzer meets Pope Francis after a talk to students of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy. (L’Osservatore Romano photo) |
MADISON — In May of 2012, the Diocese of Madison announced that Fr. John Putzer had been selected to serve the Holy Father and the Church by training for future service in the Diplomatic Corps of the Holy See, an assignment that has required him to leave the Diocese of Madison to pursue his studies and assume his new role.
Father Putzer returned to the Diocese of Madison in July of this year at the conclusion of his first year of studies.
Below is an interview he granted the Herald before he returned to Rome to resume studying for diplomatic service. Our questions are denoted in bold and his responses follow:
Father, it has been a year since you were here in the Diocese of Madison. What have you been doing all this time?
I am currently in formation at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in Rome, known as the “Accademia,” which is the diplomatic school for the Holy See.
This past year, there were 31 priests from all over the world studying with me at the Accademia going through a program of formation in Canon Law and internal courses that deal with Church history, diplomatic history, modern languages, and related subjects.
How long will you be in school studying these things, and what is the next step after you graduate?
The program lasts between two and four years depending on what degrees one already has upon entering the Accademia.
Because I need to pursue both a license and a doctorate in Canon Law, I will need to be over in Rome for a total of four years. I just completed my first year, and have three remaining.
After I finish formation at the Accademia, I will likely be assigned as a secretary to a nuncio in some yet-to-be-determined country, possibly anywhere in the world. For example, last year, the 10 men who completed their formation at the Accademia went to serve in countries like Madagascar, Congo, Rwanda, Nigeria, Paraguay, Honduras, Uruguay, etc.
Before we go any further, would you mind explaining a little bit more about what a “nuncio” is and what role they play in each country for the Church?
A nuncio is the papal legate or representative to a particular country, and they have two primary spheres of responsibility. The first is to be the liaison between the Holy Father and the bishops of that country. His other responsibility is to be the Pope’s ambassador to that country, the ambassador to the political/secular heads of state.
So when you say that your first posting will be as a secretary to a nuncio, what does that mean? Surely you will be doing more than simple clerical work.
The secretary to a nuncio is not just a clerk but rather his collaborator in carrying out his responsibilities to the Holy Father. Therefore, the work of the secretary depends largely on the needs of the nuncio and the political and ecclesiastical situation of the country.
One example of this collaboration between a nuncio and his secretary is that in the event that a nuncio is reassigned to another post or dies unexpectedly, the secretary immediately takes on the responsibilities of the nuncio.
That doesn’t mean he is automatically made a nuncio, but it does mean he would have all of the duties and responsibilities of the nuncio for that country. That could happen on “day one” of an assignment, so to become a secretary to a nuncio means that I would have to take my job and duties very seriously.
So basically, the job of a secretary is to do whatever is necessary to help the nuncio carry out his responsibilities to the Holy Father. Much of the work of the nuncio is to report to Rome on the various political and ecclesiastical situations in the country.
This is done so that the Holy See can have an up-to-date understanding of how best to serve and help the faithful in each country. So one possible way in which the secretary could collaborate with the nuncio is by doing some “groundwork”— i.e., getting to know the priests of the diocese or country, and also spending time learning about the political scene of the country. It’s certainly a job with great variety of duties!
Another important responsibility of the nuncio is to assist the Holy Father in the nomination of bishops. He does this by developing a list of priests who could be good candidates for future openings to the episcopate in the country.
This is essentially a way to offer the Pope a list of priests who would be good and faithful bishops; the Holy Father receives these suggestions from all around the world, and thinks about them and prays about them, and then decides whom he desires to elevate as bishop when there are retirements or deaths of current bishops.
As you can imagine, that’s a huge and difficult task, and so the nuncios of each country try and help him by giving information and recommendations.
So, does the Holy See have physical embassies in each country around the world, and is that where the nuncios and secretaries live and operate out of?
Yes, the Holy See operates Papal Embassy buildings, called nunciatures, in many but not all of the countries throughout the world.
How long could you expect to stay in one country as a secretary?
Often during the early assignments as a secretary to a nuncio, it is a three-year term (although that’s not set in stone).
So given the prospect of moving to multiple countries in a short timeframe (being in one country for three years, then another for another three and so on around the globe), what language does the diplomatic service use as a lingua franca? It would be difficult to try and learn a new language every three years as you change posts!
Exactly. Learning modern languages is a large part of our studies and our work. Now, much of the day-to-day work of the Diplomatic Service is done in Italian. Because of that, we need to have a high proficiency in speaking and writing Italian — not only writing in a professional manner, but in a very particular and specific manner — so much so that we even have specific classes about how to write briefs and protocols, etc.
So Italian is absolutely fundamental, but we are also expected to learn other modern languages as well like English, French, and Spanish. Since we do not know where we will be assigned, we try to develop a foundation in these languages now so as to prepare for the future assignments that we will receive.
When most of us think of diplomatic service in the modern world, images from movies and TV dramas that depict such service as “glitzy” or “high society” spring to mind. Is this an accurate picture of what the Diplomatic Corps of the Holy See is like? What is the reality of the life and mission of diplomatic service for the Holy See? Can it be dangerous?
Let’s start with some fundamental differences between the diplomatic service for the Holy See and diplomatic service in general.
The reason that the Diplomatic Corps of the Holy See exists is to promote the Gospel; it’s a missionary activity instituted to bring the message of Jesus Christ to people everywhere. The diplomatic service is one way — on a macroscopic level — the Church reaches out to all the world and follows the command of Christ to his Apostles to go out to all nations.
This then is what the diplomatic service does. As official representatives of the Vicar of Christ, the successor to St. Peter, these nuncios are the voice of the Church and the voice of Peter spreading the Gospel message.
This is a fundamental difference in purpose in the work of the Holy See compared with diplomatic activity conducted by secular countries (even if some of the types of tasks might be similar). It’s not just work — it’s spiritual and missionary activity.
Precisely because of this fundamental difference, the Diplomatic Service for the Holy See has a unique position on the international scene. As Catholics, we know that Christ’s kingdom is not of this world, and secular nations tend to recognize this and realize that the Holy See is not engaged in political self-promotion.
This allows the Holy See to act as a widely accepted mediator between warring countries and sides that have no ability to talk to each other.
I had an opportunity several years ago where I attended a conference sponsored by the Holy See Mission to the United Nations in New York City.
There is a nuncio assigned not only to countries but also, in this case, to the United Nations. One of the things that I heard there is that the work of the Holy See is unique because it is respected across the globe as a moral leader and guide, which allows it to serve as a point of encounter and mediator between otherwise completely divergent parties.
Now to your question about the dangers.
Certainly there are dangers involved, because religious persecution is a reality around the world, and the Church will not compromise on the truth or on remaining faithful to the message entrusted to her by her founder, Jesus Christ himself.
Because of that, the Holy See is often the object of attack from many different directions. She is frequently attacked by those who are upset that we point to, with our lives and with our words, the objective and undying reality of things like: the natural law, the importance of offering free worship and religiously oriented lives to God, the dignity of each human person from natural conception to natural death, and countless other truths that are under attack around the world.
There is always the possibility, then, that the nuncios throughout the world come under attack because they are the official representatives of the St. Peter and the Church.
It is difficult to grasp exactly what your acceptance to the Diplomatic Corps means for your life and this diocese. Essentially, you had to give up the ability to work or live in the Diocese of Madison ever again because your service is for life, correct? Could you explain what this first year has been like, and how your studies and work in the Diplomatic Service fit into the ministry you have as a priest?
Well, the year has been a busy year with many transitions: moving to Europe, learning the language. . . actually, that’s really been one of the bigger challenges because not only do I need to know Italian just to get around the streets of Rome, but it’s the language of the house at the Accademia. We pray in Italian, we celebrate the Mass in Italian, all of our conversations are in Italian, and all of our classes and all of our homework are in Italian.
In addition to studying subjects pertaining to the diplomatic service, I am also pursuing first a license and then a doctorate in Canon Law through the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome.
These classes are also in Italian, and the exams are in Italian as well (these are oral exams, which is a huge difference from things back in America and it is pretty intimidating when your entire grade depends on a 15 minute conversation in Italian with your professor at the end of the semester). So, it’s a lot of work!
In addition to all of this “busy work,” we are each asked to get involved in some pastoral activity on the weekends. I have the opportunity to celebrate Mass for a small group of nuns who are part of a community called the Spiritual Family of the Work, which is a religious institution founded in Belgium. This is a wonderful chance to exercise my priestly ministry that, unfortunately, can sometimes seem to be pushed aside in the course of my studies.
It’s not that I ever actually forget that I am an ordained priest of Jesus Christ, but being back in school and living in community is so similar to the seminary that it is easy to forget how radically different it truly is.
We have a wonderful president at the Accademia who encourages us and exhorts us to always keep our priestly identity as our focal point — we must first be holy priests before we can ever be successful diplomats in service to the Church. So this is very important, and it requires a transformation in how I approach everything that I do in Rome and for my studies.
Growing up, when I was discerning the priesthood, I never imagined that my priestly service would look like this. In fact, I didn’t even know that the Diplomatic Service to the Holy See existed!
I always imagined myself simply working in a parish and bringing Christ to the faithful, so being extracted from parochial life has been a huge challenge, but I can see the Lord working to transform me and conform me to his will in a variety of ways through all of this.
A Catholic priest is a priest forever, both in and outside of a parish context. He always remains connected to the central mystery of the Church — the Paschal Mystery of Christ — which is the mystery that we celebrate day-in and day-out at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
No matter where I happen to be, if it’s in the jungles of South America or in a downtown parish in Madison, I am connected to the mystery of Christ and his sacrifice on the cross. In giving myself over to this particular ministry in the Church, I seek to give myself as fully and completely as Christ himself did for the Church and in obedience to the Father.
Could you give our readers a feel for what living in Rome has been like this past year (especially considering the resignation of Pope Benedict and the election of Pope Francis)? How different are even the small details of everyday life?
Life in Rome is a much different life than I had ever experienced before. It’s such a historical city, with ruins like the Forum and the Coliseum — these monuments from this ancient civilization and powerful empire. But even more dramatic than these ruins is the testament all around you to the Christian conversion of Rome.
It’s amazing to walk down the streets, turn a corner, find a church that I have never seen before, and to suddenly discover the relics of an amazing saint that I have read about since childhood. Instead of my parents’ stories about this holy person, now I am suddenly standing in front of their relics! It is a powerful thing to experience this, and to live in the city where Peter and Paul laid down their lives in martyrdom for Christ and his Church.
So that historical reality is ever-present in Rome. It’s an amazing thing and surrounds you wherever you go. In fact, we live at the Accademia, which is right behind the Pantheon.
Now, the Pantheon is a third century Roman temple built by the emperor Hadrian to honor all of the pagan gods. In the fourth century, the emperor Constantine dedicated the Pantheon as a church for Christians in Rome to use, in honor of the Virgin Mary and all of the martyrs. So you have this ancient building that is both secular and religious, and it really encapsulates the reality of the historicity of the city of Rome and the Church throughout the millennia.
But my favorite part about living in Rome is the fact that I am in the city of the Holy Father, especially because my studies are preparing me for future service to the Holy See and to represent the Holy Father. It is very moving to be able to meet with the Pope and to see him living and working here in Rome. I never had the chance to personally meet Pope Benedict XVI, but I did go to many of his Sunday recitations of the Angelus and public Masses.
It was such a moving experience to be in Rome for the conclave and the election of our current Holy Father Francis. I was in the square when the white smoke came up — it was so exciting to see that!
Something that really surprised me, however, was how many people were already waiting in the square when the white smoke announced the election.
I was expecting that St. Peter’s square would quickly flood with people when the announcement was made, but it was beautiful to see how many people were already waiting there on the off chance that the Pope would be elected at that particular moment (especially considering that it was raining most of the day).
And then when the Holy Father came out on to the loggia of St. Peter’s and was greeting the crowds in his characteristic simplicity, everybody just starting going crazy with joy. There was shouting and singing, and then the Holy Father asked for a moment of silence and prayer, and it was remarkable how this massively crowded square, in an instant, became utterly silent. Honestly, you could have heard a pin drop!
It was so beautiful to see how the Church is pulled together in the figure of the Pope and how, throughout the world, people are united in prayer to God through the example and testimony of each Holy Father.
It is a moment that I will never forget and a moment that I am privileged to have experienced.
It gives me a profound appreciation for the gift of the papacy — Christ does not leave us abandoned until he comes again, but instead gives us a shepherd in the popes to guide us along the way and help us on this Earthly pilgrimage as we seek to grow in holiness and to hopefully attain to everlasting life with the Blessed Trinity in Heaven.
To conclude, would you mind explaining the story behind this picture of you meeting with the Holy Father one-on-one?
Certainly. All of the students at the Accademia had a meeting with the Holy Father on June 6. The evening beforehand my father had called me and we were talking on the phone, and he asked me, “If it’s proper, would you send greetings from us (my parents) to the Holy Father?” I said that I was sure that the Holy Father would very much enjoy to receive greetings from them, and so that day, after the Holy Father had given us his encouraging and challenging words, we each had a chance to meet him personally.
When I greeted him, I said, “Holiness, thank you for your example and your love for the Church. I also bring greetings from my parents back in Wisconsin in the United States. They pray for you every day.” After I had told him that, he pointed at me, and he said, jokingly, “And you don’t?” That startled me, as you can imagine, and I responded, “No, of course, of course I pray for you!” and he said “Good. Never stop praying!” to which I replied, “I won’t stop, your Holiness” . . . and that was the extent of our conversation that day. It was quite a powerful encounter, and something that I won’t soon forget.