Jean-Marie Speich
| His Excellency, The Most Reverend Jean-Marie Speich | |
|---|---|
| Apostolic Nuncio Titular Archbishop of Sulci | |
| |
| Appointed | 12 April 2025 |
| Retired | 21 February 2026 |
| Predecessor | Paul Tschang In-Nam |
| Previous posts | Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana (2013–2019) Apostolic Nuncio to Slovenia and Apostolic Delegate to Kosovo (2019-2025) Apostolic Nuncio to the Netherlands (2025–2026) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 9 October 1982 |
| Consecration | 24 October 2013 by Pope Francis, Jean-Pierre Gallet and Antonio Mattiazzo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jean-Marie Speich 15 June 1955 Strasbourg, France |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Alma mater | Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy Pontifical Gregorian University |
| Motto | WI I KAN (As I can) |
Jean-Marie Speich (born 15 June 1955) is a French prelate of the Catholic Church who worked in the diplomatic service of the Holy See from 1986 until his retirement in 2026. He was an apostolic nuncio from 2013 to 2026. He has been an archbishop since 2013.
Biography
Speich was born on 15 June 1955 in Strasbourg, France, to Xavier Speich and Marie Thérèse Goetz, residents of Willgottheim (Bas-Rhin).[1] His sister Andrée Speich is a cloistered Benedictine nun.
Speich was ordained to the priesthood on 9 October 1982,[2] by Bishop Léon Arthur Elchinger. From 1982 to 1984, he served as assistant pastor at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in the Archdiocese of Strasbourg.[3] To prepare for a diplomatic career he entered the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in 1984.[4]
Diplomatic career
He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 1 July 1986 and was assigned to Apostolic Nunciatures of the Holy See in Haiti, Nigeria, Bolivia, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, Egypt, Spain and Cuba.[2] On 27 March 2008, he became head of the section for French-speaking countries at the Secretariat of State.[2]
Speich's academic degrees include a doctorate in canon law, and a licentiate in sacred theology, both from the Pontifical Gregorian University.[2]
On 17 August 2013, Pope Francis named Speich Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana and titular archbishop of Sulci.[2] He received his episcopal consecration from Pope Francis on 24 October.[5]
On 19 March 2019, Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Nuncio to Slovenia and Apostolic Delegate to Kosovo.[6]
On 12 April 2025, Pope Francis appointed him as nuncio to the Netherlands.[7]
On 21 February 2026, Pope Leo XIV accepted his resignation,[8] which he had submitted at the age of 70 as nuncios as privileged to do.[9]
The Speich family coat of arms dates to the first half of the 13th century.[10] Speich assumed the motto of Speich family of Strasbourg, which has been in use since 1415. This motto, "Wi I Kan", which is in Alemannic German and means "As I can".
Honours
- Ecclesiastical
- Chaplain of His Holiness, 15 October 1988.
- Honorary Prelate of His Holiness, 10 November 1998.
- Others
- National Order of Honour and Merit of Haiti, Commander, 2 August 1989.
- Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, Commander, 24 February 1999.
- Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Conventual Chaplain ad honorem, 24 June 2006.
- Legion of Honor of the Republic of France, Knight, 1 January 2010.[11]
- Dynastic Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus of the House of Savoy, Grand Officer, 14 September 2013.
See also
References
- Back to citation Cf. Pays d'Alsace, Willgottheim Woellenheim, Deux villages du Kochersberg, Société d'Histoire et d'Archéologie de Saverne et environs, No. 120 -123 (1982-1983), ISSN 0245-8411.
- Back to citation occurrence 2.0 Back to citation occurrence 2.1 Back to citation occurrence 2.2 Back to citation occurrence 2.3 Back to citation occurrence 2.4 "Rinunce e Nomine, 17.08.2013" (Press release) (in Italian). 17 August 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
- Back to citation "Curriculum Vitae". Order of Malta Embassy to Slovenia. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- Back to citation "Pontificia Accademia Ecclesiastica, Ex-alunni 1950 – 1999" (in Italian). Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- Back to citation "Slovénie: Mgr Jean-Marie Speich nommé nonce apostolique". Zenit (in French). 19 March 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
- Back to citation "Resignations and Appointments, 19.03.2019" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 19 March 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
- Back to citation "Resignations and Appointments, 12.04.2025". Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- Back to citation "Resignations and Appointments, 21.02.2026". Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- Back to citation "Nuntius in den Niederlanden tritt in den Ruhestand". Vatican News (in Dutch). 21 February 2026. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- Back to citation Wild, Samuel (1902). Wappen der am Schlusse des 19. Jahrhundert lebenden Bürger-Geschlechter des Kantons Glarus. Sorgfältigst zusammengetragen und dargestellt nach Wappenbüchern älterer und neuerer Zeit, sowie nach Sigillen und Pettschaften (in German). Glarus. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015 – via gl.ch; Gottfried Heer, Zur Geschichte glarnerischer Geschlechter, derjenigen des Serftales insbesondere. Allerlei Bilder aus vergangenen Tagen, Ed. Rud. Tschudy, Glarus, 1920; JMS (Summer 2012). "[s.n.]". Kocherschbari (in French) (65). Truchtersheim, FR: Association des amis du Kochersberg: 26–32. ISSN 0243-2498; The blazon of the arms is as follows: German: In Silber über grünem Dreiberg steigender gebildeter goldener Mond, uberhöht von goldenem Kreuz, French: D'argent à la croix d'or alésée à pal brochant la fasce en chef sur la lune croissante d'or figurée en abîme, le tout sur trois pointes de montagne sinople
- Back to citation "Mgr Speich reçoit la Légion d'Honneur". Église catholique en France. Édité par la Conférence des évêques de France (in French). 6 January 2010. Archived from the original on 20 August 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.