Martin Krebs

{{short description|German prelate of the Catholic Church (born 1956)}}

{{Infobox Christian leader

| type =

| honorific-prefix = His Excellency, The Most Reverend

| name = Martin Krebs

| honorific-suffix =

| title = Apostolic Nuncio of Monaco
Titular Archbishop of Taborenta

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| archdiocese =

| diocese =

| appointed = 19 April 2024

| enthroned =

| retired =

| predecessor = Antonio Arcari

| successor =

| other_post = Titular Archbishop of Taborenta

| previous_post = {{bulleted list | Apostolic Nuncio to Switzerland and Liechtenstein (2021-2024) | Apostolic Nuncio to Uruguay (2018-2021) | Apostolic Nuncio to the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Micronesia, New Zealand, Palau, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Tonga, Marshall Islands, Nauru and Apostolic Delegate to the Pacific Ocean (2013-2018) | Apostolic Nuncio to Guinea and Mali (2008-2013) }}

| ordination = 10 October 1983

| ordained_by = Friedrich Wetter

| consecration = 16 November 2008

| consecrated_by = Tarcisio Bertone, Erwin Josef Ender, and Felix Genn

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1956|11|02}}

| birth_place = Essen, Germany

| death_date =

| death_place =

| buried =

| nationality = German

| alma_mater =

| coat_of_arms = 100px

| motto = BEATI MISERICORDES

}}

{{Infobox bishopstyles

| name= Martin Krebs

| dipstyle=

| offstyle=Your Excellency

| relstyle=Archbishop

| image = Coat of arms of Martin Krebs.svg

| image_size = 200px

}}

Martin Krebs (born to Essen 2 November 1956) is a German prelate of the Catholic Church who has worked in the diplomatic service of the Holy See since 1991. He has been an archbishop since 2008 when he received the first of several postings as a papal nuncio.

Biography

Martin Krebs was born in Essen, Germany, on 2 November 1956. He was ordained to the priesthood there on 10 October 1983. He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 1 July 1991, and held posts in Burundi, Japan, Austria, the Czech Republic, the European Community and the United States.{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | accessdate = 5 April 2019 |language=it| date= 8 September 2008 | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 08.09.2008 | url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2008/09/08/0552/01382.html}}

He is fluent in English, Italian, French, Spanish and Czech.

Diplomatic career

On 8 September 2008, Pope Benedict XVI named him titular archbishop of Taborenta and Apostolic Nuncio to Guinea and Mali. He welcomed the assignment, describing Guinea as "a predominantly Islamic country in which Islam is not lived fanatically".{{cite news | work= ORDEN | language = de | accessdate = 6 April 2019 | date= 8 September 2008 | url = http://www.orden-online.de/news/2008/09/08/nuntius-dr-martin-krebs-wollte-eigentlich-arzt-werden/ | title = Nuntius Dr. Martin Krebs wollte eigentlich Arzt werden}}

On 8 May 2013, Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Nuncio to New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Palau, and Micronesia, as well as Apostolic Delegate to the Pacific Ocean.{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | accessdate = 5 April 2019 |language=it| date= 8 May 2013 | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 08.05.2013 | url =http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2013/05/08/0286/00642.html }} He received his episcopal consecration from Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone on 16 November.{{cn|date=January 2020}} On 23 September, Francis added Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu to his responsibilities.{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | accessdate = 5 April 2019 |language=it| date= 23 September 2013 | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 22.09.2013 | url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2013/09/23/0601/01334.html }} On 18 January 2014, he added Tonga as well,{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | accessdate = 5 April 2019 |language=it| date= 18 January 2014 | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 18.01.2014 | url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2014/01/18/0040/00076.html }} and on 3 May the Marshall Islands and Nauru.{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | accessdate = 5 April 2019 |language=it| date= 3 May 2014 | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 03.05.2014 | url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2014/05/03/0318/00698.html }} While fulfilling this array of assignments he used Wellington, New Zealand, as his base. On several occasions he played a role in the affairs of the troubled Archdiocese of Agaña on Guam, trying to reconcile disputing parties in 2014,{{cite news| work=CathNews New Zealand| accessdate=8 April 2019 | url= https://cathnews.co.nz/2014/07/22/apostolic-delegate-visits-guam-build-bridges/ | title= Apostolic Delegate visits Guam to build bridges | date= 22 July 2014}} receiving a report that Archbishop Anthony Apuron had sodomized a boy years earlier in 2015,{{cite news | accessdate = April 8, 2019 |date= 22 May 2017 |first=Haidee V. | last = Eugenio | work= USA Today | title = Guam priest named in 67th abuse suit was confidant of altar boys|url= https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/05/22/guam-priest-scandal-niland/337088001/ }} and trying without success to persuade Apuron to resign in 2016.{{cite news| work=La Stampa| accessdate=8 April 2019 | url= https://www.lastampa.it/2017/09/20/vaticaninsider/the-guam-problem-a-diocese-rocked-by-financial-and-sexual-scandal-mYRzULb4kkq1qu47rsvIiO/pagina.html | title= The Guam problem, a diocese rocked by financial and sexual scandal | date= 20 September 2017| first= Salvatore | last= Cernuzio}}

On 16 June 2018, Francis named Krebs Apostolic Nuncio to Uruguay.{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | accessdate = 5 April 2019 |date= 16 June 2018| title = Resignations and Appointments, 16.06.2018| url = http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2018/06/16/180616c.html }}{{cite news | work= Cath News | accessdate = 6 April 2019 | date = 28 June 2018 | url = https://cathnews.co.nz/2018/06/28/nuncio-depart-new-zealand/| title = Apostolic Nuncio to depart New Zealand for new post in Uruguay}}

On 3 March 2021, Krebs was reassigned as Nuncio to Switzerland and Liechtenstein.{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2021/03/03/210303b.html | title = Resignations and Appointments, 03.03.2021 | date= 3 March 2021 | access-date = 3 March 2021 }}

With the possibility of same-sex marriage in Liechtenstein, Krebs reportedly refused to get involved in the disagreement between Archbishop Wolfgang Haas and the Landtag, saying it is up to Haas and MPs to resolve the conflict, “I see no basis for the Holy See to intervene."{{cite web | url=https://cruxnow.com/church-in-europe/2023/01/liechtenstein-prelate-cancels-parliamentary-mass-over-gay-marriage-bill | title=Liechtenstein prelate cancels parliamentary Mass over gay marriage bill | date=9 January 2023 }}

On 19 April 2024, Pope Francis appointed him as Nuncio to Monaco.{{cite news |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2024/04/19/240419c.html |title=Resignations and Appointments, 19.04.2024 |accessdate=April 19, 2024}}