.jpg)
His Eminence
Cardinal-Deacon
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.
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.
Description and Explanation
The motto chosen for the Coat of Arms is Si Scires Donum Dei (“If you knew the gift of God” – John 4:10). A woman of Samaria was sitting by the well when Jesus asked her for a drink of water … “Jesus answered her, if you knew the gift of God and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” John 4:10
The shield contains 3 symbols:
The white animal is an ermine "passant argent gorged or and lampassed gules" as represented in the Coat of Arms of Saint-Malo, the Cardinal’s home town. The legend says that the ermine would rather die than to have her white fur stained.
The rock represents the granite rocks of Brittany. It is strong enough to resist the constant assaults of the sea. It is therefore a symbol of solidity. The surname of the Cardinal, "Pierre", is the French translation of rock or stone. The Cardinal has also received the mission to represent the Successor of the first Pope, named by Jesus as Cephas (rock or stone).
The river crossing the shield represents the water the woman of Samaria was looking at (the well of Jacob) when Jesus offered to give her living water. It represents also the river which St. Christopher (“Christ-bearer”) was helping people to cross over. Once, a child on his shoulders became suddenly heavy and was revealed to him as being Jesus himself.
The Coat of Arms was designed by Xavier Pierre, a younger brother of the Cardinal. He passed away in 1999.