Pope Leo XIV is mourning the death of Cardinal Paul Emil Tscherrig, remembering the Swiss prelate as a faithful servant of the Gospel who dedicated his life to the Church and the Successor of Peter.
According to Vatican News, Cardinal Tscherrig died on Tuesday, May 12, at the age of 79. In a telegram of condolence, Pope Leo XIV expressed his “deep condolences” to the cardinal’s family and to the Diocese of Sion in Switzerland, where the cardinal was incardinated.
The Holy Father reflected on Cardinal Tscherrig’s decades of diplomatic and ecclesial service, offering “gratitude for his faithful service as a papal representative in various countries and later as a member of several dicasteries of the Holy See,” according to Vatican News.
Pope Leo also praised the late cardinal for the witness he gave throughout his ministry. He said Cardinal Tscherrig “acted generously” and “bore witness to love for the Church and for the Successor of Peter,” highlighting the deep loyalty and devotion that marked his vocation.
Entrusting the cardinal’s soul to God, the Pope prayed that the Lord would “welcome him into the light that knows no sunset.” He also invoked the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and extended his apostolic blessing to all grieving his sudden passing.
Born on February 3, 1947, in Unterems, Switzerland, Cardinal Tscherrig was ordained to the priesthood in 1974. He later earned a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University before entering the Holy See’s diplomatic service under Pope John Paul II in 1978.
Over the course of his long diplomatic ministry, Cardinal Tscherrig served the Church in numerous countries around the world, including Uganda, South Korea, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Burundi, Argentina, and throughout the Caribbean. He was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Burundi in 1996 and later held several major diplomatic assignments on behalf of the Holy See.
One of the most historic moments of his career came when he became Apostolic Nuncio to Italy and San Marino in 2023, becoming the first non-Italian to ever hold the prestigious position.
Later that same year, Pope Francis elevated him to the College of Cardinals during the September 30, 2023 consistory.
Cardinal Tscherrig’s life reflected a quiet but steadfast dedication to the universal Church. Through decades of diplomatic service across continents and cultures, he represented the Holy See with fidelity while remaining deeply committed to the mission of proclaiming the Gospel.
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