Mgr Laboa, former Nuncio in Malta, dies

Archbishop Jose Sebastian Laboa, Apostolic Nuncio for Malta between 1995 and 1998, has died in his native Spain. He was 79.

His posting to Malta was his last in a distinguished career which saw him play a prominent role, particularly as nuncio to Panama at the time of the US invasion, and Nuncio to Tripoli when the Holy See and Libya restored diplomatic relations.

Mgr Laboa was born in Pasai Donibane (Gipuzkoa) in 1923 and joined the priesthood in 1949.

The day after he obtained a doctorate in Canon Law at the Gregorian University of Rome he was summoned to the Roman Curia by Monsignor Montini who later became Pope Paul VI, and was appointed to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints for 15 years.

In 1975 he was made an official of the Propaganda Fide Congregation. For 15 years he was responsible for the Latin American area.

In 1983 Pope John Paul II appointed him to run the Panama Nunciature.

On December 20, 1989, the United States invaded Panama. President Manuel Antonio Noriega took refuge in the Nunciature and Laboa was involved in delicate mediation leading to Noriega's surrender.

He was later appointed Nuncio to Paraguay, and to Malta and Libya.

He retired from his Malta post on turning 75.