New Permanent Observer to UN Appointed by Pope Leo XIV
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis as the Holy See's new Permanent Observer to the United Nations (UN) in New York. The appointment was officially announced by the Holy See Press Office. A…
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis as the Holy See's new Permanent Observer to the United Nations (UN) in New York. The appointment was officially announced by the Holy See Press Office.
Archbishop El-Kassis, a native of Lebanon, holds the title of Titular Archbishop of Roselle. Before this new assignment, he served as the Apostolic Nuncio to the United Arab Emirates and Yemen, as well as the Apostolic Delegate to the Arabian Peninsula.
Since his ordination in 1994, Archbishop El-Kassis has been part of the Holy See diplomatic service starting in 2000, during which he has worked in various countries, including Indonesia, Sudan, and Turkey, and within the Secretariat of State. His extensive diplomatic experience positions him well to represent the Holy See at the UN headquarters, where it holds Permanent Observer status.
This status allows the Holy See to participate in the proceedings of the General Assembly and other bodies of the United Nations, contributing to international dialogue on a wide range of global issues.
