Marek Zalewski (bishop)

{{short description|Polish prelate of the Catholic Church (born 1963)}}

{{Infobox Christian leader

| honorific-prefix = His Excellency, The Most Reverend

| name = Marek Zalewski

| honorific-suffix =

| image = Ksiadz marek zalewski.jpg

| title = Apostolic Nuncio to Singapore
Residential Pontifical Representative for Vietnam

| alt =

| caption =

| appointed = 21 May 2018

| previous_post = {{unbulleted list | Apostolic Nuncio to Zimbabwe (2014-2018) }}

| other_post = Titular Archbishop of Africa

| predecessor = Leopoldo Girelli

| successor =

| ordination = 27 May 1989

| ordained_by = Juliusz Paetz

| consecration = 31 May 2014

| consecrated_by = Pietro Parolin, Janusz Stepnowski and Romuald Kamiński

| birth_name = Marek Zalewski

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|2|2|df=y}}

| birth_place = Augustow, Poland People's Republic

| death_date =

| death_place =

| buried =

| nationality = Polish

| alma_mater =

| signature =

| coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Marek Zalewski.svg

| motto = Lumen vitae Christus
(Christ, light of life)

}}

{{Infobox bishopstyles

|name=Marek Zalewski

|dipstyle=

His Excellency

The Most Reverend

|offstyle=Your Excellency

|relstyle=Archbishop

|deathstyle=

| image = Coat of arms of Marek Zalewski.svg

| image_size = 200px

}}

Marek Zalewski (born 2 February 1963) is a Polish prelate of the Catholic Church who works in the diplomatic service of the Holy See. He has been the Apostolic Nuncio to Singapore since May 2018 and Papal Resident Representative to Vietnam since December 2023.

Biography

Marek Zalewski was born in Augustow, Poland, on 2 February 1963 to Jan Zalewski and Klara née Krucynska Zalewska. From 1983 to 1985 he studied at the major seminary in Łomża and from 1985 to 1989 at the metropolitan seminary in Florence, Italy. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Łomża on 27 May 1989.{{cite press release | publisher = Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference | access-date = 24 June 2019 | date = 25 March 2014 | url = https://zcbcsocialcommunications.wordpress.com/2014/03/25/new-nuncio-for-zimbabwe/ | title = New Nuncio for Zimbabwe }}

He worked as a parish priest in Florence for two years and then completed his doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1995 while also preparing for a diplomat's career at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy.

Diplomatic career

He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 1 July 1995. He worked in the Central African Republic (1995-1998), at the United Nations in New York (1998-2001), in Great Britain (2001-2004), Germany (2004-2008), Thailand (2008-2011), Singapore (2011-2012), and Malaysia (2012-2014).

On 25 March 2014, Pope Francis named Zalewski titular archbishop of Africa{{efn|The old part of the Tunisian city of Mahdia corresponds to the ancient Roman city called Aphrodisium and, later, Africa.}} and Apostolic Nuncio to Zimbabwe.{{cite press release | access-date = 24 June 2019 | publisher = Holy See Press Office | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 25.03.2014 | language = it | url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2014/03/25/0208/00457.html}} He received his episcopal consecration from Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State, on 31 May.

On 21 May 2018, Pope Francis named him Apostolic Nuncio to Singapore and Non-Residential Papal Representative to Vietnam.{{Cite press release |title=Rinunce e nomine, 21.05.2018 |publisher=Holy See Press Office |date=21 May 2018 |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2018/05/21/0377/00813.html |access-date=21 May 2018}} On 23 December 2023, Pope Francis named him Papal Resident Representative in Vietnam.{{Cite web |title=Resignations and Appointments |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2023/12/23/231223b.html |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=press.vatican.va}} On 31 January 2024, he arrived in Vietnam to take up his current position.{{cite web|url=https://theinvestor.vn/archbishop-zalewski-appointed-resident-papal-representative-in-vietnam-d7962.html|title=Archbishop Zalewski appointed resident papal representative in Vietnam|first=Minh|last=Anh|newspaper=The Investor Magazine|date=2023-12-24|access-date=2024-02-22}}