Pope Francis Appoints Archbishop Gänswein as Papal Nuncio to Baltic States

Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the former secretary to the late Pope Benedict XVI, as the new papal nuncio to Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia. This follows his removal from the Vatican last year and a subsequent public falling-out, highlighted by Gänswein's memoir criticizing Francis.

Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the longtime secretary of late Pope Benedict XVI, as the Vatican's diplomatic representative to the Baltic states. The Vatican disclosed this in its daily bulletin on Monday.

Previously removed from his Vatican role by Francis last year, Gänswein faced public controversy, culminating in the release of his critical memoir, 'Nothing But the Truth: My Life Beside Pope Benedict XVI.' This book revealed palace intrigues and painted Francis in a negative light. Following his removal, Gänswein returned to his native Freiburg, where he led regular services without a permanent assignment.

Speculation about Gänswein's future grew intense after Benedict's death in late 2022, which deepened a week later with the memoir's publication. Now, at age 67, Gänswein has been appointed as the Vatican's envoy to Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia, nations Francis visited in 2018.

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