Appointment of new Permanent Observer of the Holy See to UN in New York

Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis

Source: Holy See Mission

Today, Saturday 25 July, Pope Leo XIV appointed Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis, as Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York.

Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis was born in Beirut, Lebanon, on August 24, 1968. He was ordained priest on May 21, 1994 and incardinated in the Archeparchy of Beirut of the Maronites. A graduate Doctor of Civil Law and Doctor of Canon Law, he rntered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on June 19, 2000, serving in the Apostolic Nunciatures in Indonesia, Sudan and Türkiye, and in the Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State in Rome.

Archbishop El-Kassis was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Pakistan and Titular Archbishop of Rusellae on November 24, 2018. He was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to the United Arab Emirates on January 3, 2023 and appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Yemen and Apostolic Delegate to the Arabian Peninsula on July 22, 2024.

Archbishop El-Kassis succeeds Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, who has been appointed as the new ambassador to the United States.