Archbishop Gabriele Caccia is the new apostolic nuncio to the United States.Pope Leo XIV has named Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia as the new apostolic nuncio to the United States, succeeding Cardinal Christophe Pierre, who turned 80, the retirement age for cardinals, at the end of January.
Archbishop Caccia has served as the Holy See’s permanent observer at the United Nations in New York since 2019. The Italian diplomat previously served as nuncio, the pope’s diplomatic representative, to Lebanon and the Philippines.
The Holy See Press Office announced the appointment on March 7.
The French-born Cardinal Pierre served as apostolic nuncio to the U.S. for nearly 10 years — spanning three U.S. presidential terms and two pontificates.
The role includes assisting with the selection of bishops and representing the Vatican at political and Church events.
Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Pierre apostolic nuncio in April 2016 following a nine-year term as nuncio in Mexico. He was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023.
Cardinal Pierre’s retirement marks the end of an ecclesiastical diplomatic career that began in 1977 with his first role in New Zealand and included stints in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Brazil, and the United Nations in Geneva.
In 1995, Pope John Paul II named him apostolic nuncio in Haiti, and four years he was named the nuncio in Uganda.
Archbishop Paul Coakley is celebrating the appointment of Archbishop Caccia as papal nuncio to the U.S.
“It is with joy that I welcome the news that our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has appointed as his personal representative and nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Caccia,” he said in a March 7 statement. “On behalf of my brother bishops, I wish to extend our warmest welcome and our prayerful support to him as he carries out his responsibilities across the United States, and we look forward to working with him.”
Archbishop Caccia was born in Milan, Italy, in February 1958 and ordained a priest in 1983. He joined the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See in 1991 and served his first post at the apostolic nunciature in Tanzania.
He was appointed apostolic nuncio to Lebanon and titular archbishop of Sepino in 2009 and later as apostolic nuncio to the Philippines by Pope Francis in 2017.
Archbishop Coakley also expressed his “sincere and prayerful appreciation” to Caccia’s predecessor, Cardinal Pierre.
“I have had many opportunities to work with Cardinal Pierre over the years, particularly over the last four months through the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops,” he said. “Thank you, Your Eminence, for your tireless service to the Church in the United States, and on behalf of my brother bishops, I offer our heartfelt prayers and best wishes in your retirement.”
(Photo credit: Holy See Mission to the United Nations.)
By Hannah Brockhaus and Madalaine Elhabbal, EWTN News
