Christian World | Pope Leo XIV on Saturday named Polish Archbishop Waldemar Sommertag, now the Vatican envoy to Senegal, as the Holy See's new apostolic nuncio to India

ACW | November 15, 2026 — Pope Leo XIV on Saturday named Archbishop Waldemar Stanisław Sommertag as the Holy See's apostolic nuncio, or ambassador, to India, Vatican News reported.

Sommertag, 58, was born in Więcbork, Poland, Vatican News said. He has served since 2022 as nuncio to Senegal, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania, and before that, from 2018, as nuncio to Nicaragua.

In a message the same day to India's cardinals and bishops, Sommertag thanked the pope and said he accepts the post with a deep sense of responsibility, Matters India reported. He said he wants to walk with the bishops "through listening and dialogue."

He cited the Sanskrit saying "Atithi Devo Bhava" — "the guest is God" — and entrusted the Indian Church's mission to the Virgin Mary, St. Thomas the Apostle and St. Teresa of Calcutta, the outlet said.

Background: Sommertag was ordained a priest in 1993 and joined the Holy See's diplomatic service in June 2000, serving in Tanzania, Nicaragua, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel, Palestine and Cyprus, according to Vatican News. ACW earlier reported another of Leo's appointments: Pope Leo names Octavi Vilà new archbishop of Barcelona.

Why it matters: In his first message to India's bishops, Sommertag stressed "communion, fraternity and collaboration" with them, Matters India reported. A nuncio represents the pope to both the government and the local Church.

ACW will continue to follow this story.

Sources: Vatican News — Pope names Sommertag apostolic nuncio to India (Nov. 14, 2026, Italian); Matters India — New apostolic nuncio pledges communion with Indian bishops

Photo: Fr. Marek Weresa / Vatican News