General

His Eminence Christophe Cardinal Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America

Office/Committee
Year Published
  • 2024
Language
  • English

Cardinal Christophe Pierre was born on January 30, 1946, in Rennes, France. He completed his primary education in Antisirabé, Madagascar, and his secondary schooling in Saint-Malo, France, and in Marrakech, Morocco. He attended the Major Seminary of the Archdiocese of Rennes (1963-1969) and the Catholic Institute of Paris (1969-1971). 

He did Military Service from July 1965, to October 1966. He was ordained a priest on April 5, 1970, in Saint-Malo, France and incardinated in the Archdiocese of Rennes. He was Parochial Vicar of the St. Peter and St. Paul Parish in Colombes, Diocese of Nanterre, France (1970-1973). 

He has a Masters in Sacred Theology (Paris, 1971) and a Doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome (1973-1977). He completed his studies at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, in Rome (1973-1977), and joined the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See on March 5, 1977. He was appointed first to the Pontifical Representation in New Zealand and the Islands of the Pacific Ocean (1977-1981). Subsequently he served in Mozambique (1981); in Zimbabwe (1982-1986); in Cuba (1986-1989); in Brazil (1989-1991); at the Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland (1991-1995). He was appointed Apostolic Nuncio and elected Titular Archbishop of Gunela on July 12, 1995, receiving Episcopal Consecration on September 24, 1995, in Saint-Malo, France. 

Cardinal Pierre served as Apostolic Nuncio in Haiti from 1995 until 1999. He was then appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda (1999-2007) and subsequently to Mexico (2007-2016). On April 12th, 2016, Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America.  

On July 9th, 2023, Pope Francis announced his intention to elevate him to the College of Cardinals. At the Public Consistory of September 30th, 2023, he was created Cardinal Deacon of San Benedetto fuori Porta S. Paolo. 

Cardinal Pierre speaks French, English, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese.  

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