Diocesan priest to take post with ICMC

Msgr. Robert J. Vitillo

GENEVA, Switzerland  Msgr. Robert J. Vitillo, a priest of the Diocese of Paterson, has been appointed Secretary General of the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC), based here in Switzerland, effective June 1. Msgr. Vitillo takes over from Johan Ketelers as he nears completion of his third term, having led the organization since 2004.

ICMC is an international non-governmental organization, focused on the protection of uprooted people, regardless of faith, race, ethnicity or nationality. It works toward the recognition of rights and develops programs focused on humanitarian assistance, resettlement, and migration and development directly, through a worldwide membership of Catholic Bishops Conferences, and alongside governmental and non-governmental partners.

The appointment was made following an ordinary process, during which a selection committee was established to identify and propose a suitable replacement. In accordance with the ICMC statutes, the committee’s proposal was subsequently submitted to the Vatican’s Secretary of State, who confirmed the candidate. The ICMC Governing Committee later elected Msgr. Vitillo as the new Secretary General.

Msgr. Vitillo was born in Newark and grew up in Nutley as a parishioner of Holy Family Parish there. He was graduated from Seton Hall Prep, West Orange, and Marquette University, Wis. He pursued graduate studies in theology and psychology at The Catholic University of America, Washington. He earned his master’s degree in social work from Rutgers University, New Brunswick.

He was ordained as a priest of the Paterson Diocese in St. John’s Cathedral in Paterson, on May 27, 1972. His first assignment was to serve at Catholic Charities’ Catholic Family and Community Services in Paterson as director of residential services. He was named executive secretary of the newly established Social Ministries Secretariat, which included diocesan Catholic Charities agencies, in 1982 and also served as diocesan director of the Campaign for Human Development. During that time, Msgr. Vitillo coordinated the resettlement of Southeast Asian, Ethiopian, Eritrean, Haitian and Cuban refugees to the United States. He also assisted ICMC to design its cultural orientation programs for Southeast Asian refugees in Bataan, Philippines. He then served as executive director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Campaign for Human Development in Washington for eight years. He currently serves at Caritas Internationalis both as its Head of Delegation to the United Nations in Geneva and as special adviser on Health and HIV/AIDS. He is a trained social worker and psychotherapist. Pope Benedict XVI named him a monsignor in 2007.

“I feel honored to have the opportunity to now lead ICMC, especially in a world wrestling with migration challenges. I look forward to working directly with the ICMC staff in Geneva, Brussels, Washington and in the field — as well as with the ICMC members worldwide to protect and serve the many people in need of protection and assistance,” Msgr. Vitillo said.

Peter Sutherland, president of ICMC and UN Special Representative for International Migration, said, “ Msgr. Vitillo’s wealth of experience and dedication to the fundamental values of ICMC speak for themselves. I am delighted to have him as the new executive head of this remarkable institution.”