Pope Leo appoints ex-Manila nuncio as U.S. envoy

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MANILA, Philippines — Pope Leo XIV has appointed the former apostolic nuncio to the Philippines as the Holy See’s envoy to the United States (U.S.).

The pontiff named Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, the current permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, as apostolic nuncio to the U.S., according to a statement from the Holy See Press Office on Saturday, March 7.

“The Holy Father has appointed Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, titular of Sepino, until now Holy See Permanent Observer at the United Nations in New York, as apostolic nuncio in the United States of America,” the Holy See’s statement read. 

He will replace Cardinal Christophe Pierre, 80, who is retiring after serving as the Vatican's ambassador to the U.S. since 2016.

Pope Francis appointed Caccia apostolic nuncio to the Philippines in September 2017.

However, in 2019, the late Pope Francis named Caccia a permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations. Archbishop Charles Brown replaced him in the post. 

Caccia was appointed to Manila during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte, at the height of the government’s war on drugs, when relations between the Catholic Church and Duterte were tense.

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However, upon his departure, Duterte awarded the Order of Sikatuna, Rank of Datu, to the Italian prelate.