Pope Leo XIV has named Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia as the new papal nuncio in the United States, succeeding Cardinal Christophe Pierre, who retired after turning 80 at the end of January.

Archbishop Caccia has till now served as the Holy Seeʼs representative to the United Nations in New York.

The Holy See Press Office announced the appointment on March 7.

The French-born Cardinal Pierre served as apostolic nuncio, the Pope’s diplomatic representative, to the U.S. for nearly 10 years — spanning three U.S. presidential terms and two papacies. The role includes assisting with the selection of bishops and representing the Vatican at political and Church events.

In an interview with EWTN News In Depth anchor Catherine Hadro ahead of his 80th birthday on Jan. 30, Cardinal Pierre described his decade as the papal representative to the U.S. as “very beautiful” and “difficult” years.

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 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, Switzerland.

In 1995, St. Pope John Paul II named him apostolic nuncio in Haiti and four years later, in Uganda.

This story is developing.