Christophe Zakhia El-Kassis

Christophe Zakhia El-Kassis (born 24 August 1968) is a Lebanese Catholic archbishop and diplomat of the Holy See. He has been a nuncio since 2018 and has served as the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations since July 2026.

Early years Christophe Zakhia El-Kassis was born in Beirut on 24 August 1968. He earned a doctorate in both civil law and church law. He was ordained a priest for the Maronite Archeparchy of Beirut on 21 May 1994. He is fluent in Lebanese, Arabic, French, Italian, English, Indonesian, Spanish, and German

Diplomatic career He joined the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 19 June 2000 and served in the Apostolic Nunciatures in Indonesia, Sudan, and Turkey. where he had responsibility for the Arab nations. He received his episcopal consecration in St. Peter's Basilica on 19 January 2019 from Cardinal Pietro Parolin,

On 3 January 2023, Pope Francis appointed him the Apostolic Nuncio to the United Arab Emirates. He was the first nuncio to become a resident in the nunciature in Abu Dhabi, which opened in February 2022.

On 22 July 2024, Pope Francis added to his responsibilities those of nuncio to Yemen and Apostolic Delegate to the Arabian Peninsula

On 25 July 2026, Pope Leo XIV appointed him Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York.