Claudio Gugerotti

Claudio Gugerotti (born 7 October 1955) is an Italian Catholic prelate who has served as prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches since 2022. He previously worked in the diplomatic service of the Holy See, serving as nuncio in several Eastern European countries between 2001 and 2020 and in Great Britain from 2020 to 2022. He joined the staff of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches in 1985 and was its undersecretary from 1997 to 2001. He was named an archbishop in 2001. Pope Francis created him a cardinal in 2023.

Biography Claudio Gugerotti was born in Verona, Italy, on 7 October 1955 and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Verona on 29 May 1982. He earned degrees in Eastern languages and literature and in sacred liturgy. He taught patristics at the San Zeno Theological Institute in Verona from 1981 to 1984, and theology and Eastern liturgy at the Institute of Ecumenical Studies in Verona from 1982 to 1985. In 1985, he joined the Roman Curia, working at the Congregation for the Eastern Churches; he became its undersecretary on 17 December 1997. He has also taught patristics and Armenian language and literature at the Pontifical Oriental Institute. He was also appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Azerbaijan on 13 December. He received his episcopal consecration from John Paul on 6 January 2002.

Gugerotti speaks beside his mother tongue Italian, Armenian, English, Greek, Kurdish and Russian.

Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Apostolic Nuncio to Belarus on 15 July 2011.

On 13 November 2015, Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine.

On 4 July 2020, Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain.

On 21 November 2022, Pope Francis appointed him Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches.

On 9 July 2023, Pope Francis announced he plans to make him a cardinal at a consistory scheduled for 30 September. At that consistory he was made Cardinal-Deacon of Sant'Ambrogio della Massima.

He participated as a cardinal elector in the 2025 papal conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV.

On 27 October 2025 met Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus.