On 25 July, at 6:00 AM EDT, the Holy Father Pope Leo XIV appointed Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis, titular Archbishop of Rusellae, until now Apostolic Nuncio to the United Arab Emirates and to Yemen, and Apostolic Delegate to the Arabian Peninsula, as Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York.

Curriculum Vitae of Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis
 

-      Born in Beirut, Lebanon on August 24, 1968.

-      Ordained priest on May 21, 1994.

-      Incardinated in the Archeparchy of Beirut of the Maronites.

-      Graduated utroque iure (Doctor of Civil Law and Doctor of Canon Law).

-   Entered 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.

-  Appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Pakistan and Titular Archbishop of Rusellae on November 24, 2018.

-     Appointed Apostolic Nuncio to the United Arab Emirates on January 3, 2023.

-    Appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Yemen and Apostolic Delegate to the Arabian Peninsula on July 22, 2024.