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WASHINGTON (CNS) — Pope Francis
has appointed Archbishop Christophe Pierre, papal nuncio to Mexico since 2007,
to be the new apostolic nuncio to the United States.
He succeeds Archbishop Carlo
Maria Vigano, who has held the post since 2011. Archbishop Vigano turned 75 in
January, the age at which canon law requires bishops to run their resignation
into the pope.
As president of the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville,
Kentucky, shared “a heartfelt greeting and my prayerful support” of
the newly named nuncio “as he embarks on his service to our country.”
“A shared closeness with
the church in Mexico already creates a strong fraternal bond between us,”
said the archbishop about the April 12 appointment.
“With fond affection, allow
me also to thank Archbishop Vigano for his selfless contributions to the life
of the Catholic Church in the United States,” Archbishop Kurtz added.
A nuncio is a Vatican diplomat
with the rank of ambassador. He is responsible for diplomatic relations with
the government, but also serves as the pope’s representative to the church in a
given country, which includes responsibility for coordinating the search for
and vetting of candidates to become bishops.
Christophe Louis Yves Georges
Pierre was born Jan. 30, 1946, in Rennes in France’s Brittany region, where his
family has had roots for many generations. He first attended school at Antsirabe
in Madagascar, pursued his secondary education at the College of Saint-Malo in
France and also spent one year in Morocco at Lycee Francais of Marrakesh.
He entered Saint-Yves seminary in
Rennes in 1963, but he interrupted his studies for two years of military service in
1965 and 1966. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Rennes at the
Cathedral of Saint-Malo April 5, 1970.
Then-Father Pierre earned his
master’s degree in theology at the Institut Catholique de Paris and his
doctorate in canon law in Rome. He was parochial vicar of the parish of
Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul de Colombes in the Diocese of Nanterre, France, from
1970 to 1973.
He then earned a diploma at the
Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in Rome, which provides training to
priests for eventual service in the Vatican’s diplomatic corps. In 1977, he entered
diplomatic service, with his first post in Wellington, New Zealand. He then served
in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Brazil and at the Permanent Observer Mission of
the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva.
In July 1995, St. John Paul II named
him an archbishop and appointed him as apostolic nuncio to Haiti. He served
there until 1999, and then was named nuncio to Uganda, where he stayed until
2007, when he was named nuncio to Mexico.
Washington Cardinal Donald W.
Wuerl said in a statement that he looked forward to welcoming Archbishop Pierre to
the archdiocese “where he will make his home as he carries out his
responsibilities across the country.” The apostolic nunciature is located
in the nation’s capital.
“Archbishop Pierre is
recognized for his distinguished diplomatic career and service to the church,”
said the cardinal, who also expressed gratitude for Archbishop Vigano’s service.
“As he departs Washington
and concludes his service to the church, I offer my gratitude for his many
kindnesses as we worked together, particularly in anticipation of the visit of
Pope Francis to the United States last September,” Cardinal Wuerl said. “Archbishop
Vigano carries with him our heartfelt prayers and best wishes.”
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