Jean-Marie Speich

Jean-Marie Speich (born 15 June 1955) is a French prelate of the Catholic Church who works in the diplomatic service of the Holy See.

His Excellency, The Most Reverend Jean-Marie Speich
Apostolic Nuncio to the Netherlands Titular Archbishop of Sulci
Appointed	12 April 2025
Predecessor	Paul Tschang In-Nam
Other post(s)	Titular Archbishop of Sulci
Previous post(s)	Apostolic Nuncio to Slovenia and Apostolic Delegate to Kosovo (2019-2025) Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana (2013–2019)
Orders
Ordination	9 October 1982
Consecration	24 October 2013 by Pope Francis, Jean-Pierre Gallet and Antonio Mattiazzo
Personal details
Born	Jean-Marie Speich (1955-06-15) 15 June 1955 (age 70) Strasbourg, France
Nationality	French
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Alma mater	Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy Pontifical Gregorian University
Motto	WI I KAN (As I can)
Coat of arms

Styles of Jean-Marie Speich
Reference style	His Excellency
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Archbishop

Ordination history of Jean-Marie Speich
History Diaconal ordination Date 26 June 1982 Priestly ordination Ordained by Bishop Léon Arthur Elchinger, Bishop of Strasbourg. Date 9 October 1982 Episcopal consecration Principal consecrator Pope Francis Co-consecrators Giovanni Tonucci Jean-Pierre Grallet, O.F.M. Date 24 October 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.^{[citation needed]}

Speich was ordained to the priesthood on 9 October 1982,^[2] by Bishop Léon Arthur Elchinger.^{[citation needed]} 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]

The Speich family coat of arms dates to the first half of the 13th century.^{[8][9][10][a]} 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".^{[citation needed]}

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.

Notes

1. 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

See also

• List of heads of the diplomatic missions of the Holy See