When the Archdiocese of New York gathers at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on February 6 for the Installation Mass of Archbishop-designate Ronald A. Hicks, one figure will have a particularly prominent role. That is Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States. 

His presence is not solely ceremonial. Cardinal Pierre, who turns 80 on January 30, attends the liturgy as the official representative of Pope Leo XIV, underscoring that the installation of a new archbishop is not only a local moment for New York, but also an act of communion with the universal Church. 

Who is Cardinal Christophe Pierre? 

Cardinal Christophe Pierre is a French-born prelate who has served the Church for decades in diplomatic service. Since 2016, he has served as the apostolic nuncio to the United States, a role he continues to hold at age 79, having been appointed by Pope Francis as the Vatican’s ambassador to the U.S. government. He also serves as delegate and point-of-contact between the Catholic hierarchy in America and the Vatican. 

In 2023, Pope Francis elevated him to the College of Cardinals, a sign of trust in his pastoral and diplomatic leadership. Before arriving in Washington, Cardinal Pierre served as nuncio in several countries, including Mexico, Haiti, and Uganda, gaining deep experience in the life of local churches across cultures. 

What is an apostolic nuncio? 

An apostolic nuncio serves in a dual role. First, he is the Holy See’s diplomatic representative to a nation, similar to an ambassador. In this role, the nuncio maintains relations with civil authorities on behalf of the Vatican. 

Second, and more importantly for the life of the Church, the nuncio is the pope’s personal liaison to the bishops of a country. He helps foster unity between local churches and the Holy Father and plays a key role in the process of selecting new bishops and archbishops in the country where he serves. 

This means that Cardinal Pierre knows Archbishop-designate Hicks and recommended him (and others) for the Archdiocese of New York. Pope Leo XIV, before being elected pope, was the head of the Vatican’s office for bishops, so he is also very aware of Hicks’ qualifications and gifts. It is always the pope who makes the final decision on the appointment of a bishop or archbishop for each diocese. 

In short, the nuncio is a living sign that every diocese is connected to Rome and to the pope, even as each bishop governs his own local church. 

Why is the nuncio central to an Installation Mass? 

At the Installation Mass of a new archbishop, the apostolic nuncio represents the authority of the pope who has appointed the new shepherd. 

At the beginning of the liturgy, Cardinal Pierre will read an apostolic mandate from Pope Leo that names Archbishop Hicks as the 14th Bishop and 11th Archbishop of the See of New York. This moment makes clear that the archbishop’s authority does not come from personal achievement or local election, but from the pope acting in communion with the whole Church. 

By presiding over these key moments of the liturgy, the nuncio makes visible the bond between the Archdiocese of New York and the Holy See. 

What this means for the faithful of New York 

For Catholics in the Archdiocese of New York, Cardinal Pierre’s presence is a reminder that their new archbishop is entrusted with his ministry not only for New York, but within the worldwide mission of the Church. 

The Installation Mass is therefore both deeply local and unmistakably universal. At 58, Archbishop-designate Hicks takes his seat in St. Patrick’s Cathedral as the local shepherd of 2.5 million Catholics, in communion with the Vatican and the bishops around the world. 

In the person of Cardinal Christophe Pierre, that communion is made visible at the altar, at the ambo, and at the cathedra, linking New York’s historic cathedral to the heart of the Church.