Emil Paul Tscherrig

Emil Paul Tscherrig (3 February 1947 – 12 May 2026) was a Swiss prelate of the Catholic Church who spent his career in the diplomatic service of the Holy See. He became an archbishop in 1996 and held assignments as Apostolic Nuncio to several countries. He was nuncio to Italy and San Marino when he retired from the diplomatic service in 2024.

Tscherrig served as the Titular Archbishop of Voli from 1996 to 2023. He was made a cardinal by Pope Francis on 30 September 2023 and served as a cardinal elector in the 2025 conclave.

Early life Emil Paul Tscherrig was born in Unterems on 3 February 1947,

Tscherrig studied at the Collegium Brig from 1961 to 1968. He struggled with his decision to become a priest, only deciding while performing his military service. He studied philosophy and theology at the seminary in Sion and at the University of Freiburg, earning a Licentiate in Catholic theology in 1974.

Diplomatic service He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 1 April 1978. On 20 January 2001, John Paul named him Nuncio to Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, and Suriname as well. On 1 June 2001, he was made Nuncio to Saint Kitts and Nevis as well.

On 22 May 2004, he was named Nuncio to Korea and on 17 June Nuncio to Mongolia as well.

On 26 January 2008, Pope Benedict XVI named him Nuncio to Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway.

On 5 January 2012 he was named Nuncio to Argentina. On the night of his election to the papacy, Pope Francis called Tscherrig to ask him to inform the Argentine Catholic hierarchy and community that they could miss his investiture as Bishop of Rome and instead perform an act of charity with the money they would have spent.

In 2016, Pope Francis sent Tscherrig to Venezuela to initiate dialogue between the Vatican and the government of Nicolas Maduro. In October 2016, Francis would privately meet with Maduro which led to Maduro agreeing to meet with opposition leaders in Venezuela.

On 12 September 2017, Pope Francis named him Nuncio to Italy and San Marino. He was the first non-Italian ever to hold the position of Apostolic Nuncio to Italy. He was charged with helping plan for the merger of dioceses in Italy, and he took on a greater public role than is traditional for nuncios. During his diplomatic service, he was considered to be an influential figure in foreign policy within the Vatican. At that consistory he was made Cardinal-Deacon of San Giuseppe al Trionfale.

Francis had also appointed him to several Curial positions: member of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura on 4 October 2023; member of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints on 17 February 2024; and member of the Dicastery for Evangelization and of the Dicastery for Bishops on 18 May 2024. Francis named him to the Commission of Cardinals that oversees the work of the Institute for the Works of Religion (Vatican Bank) on 28 October 2024. He supported efforts to increase lay participation in Church governance and the Synodal process.

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

Death Tscherrig died on 12 May 2026, at the age of 79, in his residence at the Domus Sanctae Marthae in Vatican City. Pope Leo XIV presided over his funeral. Tscherrig's final public appearance was on 6 May during the swearing-in of new members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard.