Fernando Vérgez Alzaga was born in Salamanca, Spain, on 1 March 1945. He entered the Legionaries of Christ on 25 December 1965 and was ordained a priest on 26 November 1969, taking degrees in philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University and a diploma as an archivist of the Vatican Secret Archives.
He has worked in the Roman Curia since 1972: in the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life, the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, then as head of the Holy See's Internet Office (2004) and director of Vatican City's telecommunications (2008). On 30 August 2013 Pope Francis appointed him Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State, and consecrated him a bishop personally on 15 November 2013. In 2020 he joined the five-member commission overseeing reserved Vatican financial contracts.
On 8 September 2021 Francis appointed him President of the Governorate of Vatican City State (effective 1 October), with the personal title of archbishop — effectively the Vatican's governor — and created him a cardinal on 27 August 2022, with the deaconry of Santa Maria della Mercede e Sant'Adriano a Villa Albani. He is also a member of the Council of Cardinals. On 15 February 2025 Francis named Raffaella Petrini to succeed him, effective his eightieth birthday, 1 March 2025 — the first woman to govern Vatican City.
Major Works & Initiatives
President of the Governorate of Vatican City State
Governed the Vatican City State for Francis; succeeded by the first woman in the role.
Secretary General of the Governorate
The Governorate's chief administrator for eight years.
Vatican telecommunications and Internet
Ran the Holy See's Internet Office and then its telecom directorate.
Controversies
On the record
No significant public controversies reported.