Pope Francis Appoints Nigerian Archbishop as Vatican’s Permanent Observer at The UN

Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu (Image: Antilles Episcopal Conference)

Nigerian prelate and the Apostolic Nuncio to the Antilles, Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, has been appointed as by Pope Francis as the new Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations Office and Specialized Institutions in Geneva.

Also, World Trade Organization appointed 61-year-old Nwachukwu as Permanent Observer and the Representative of the Holy See to the International Organization for Migration.

The cleric replaces Bishop Ivan Jurkovic, who was previously appointed nuncio in Canada. His appointment was contained in a press release from the Office of the Secretariat of the Episcopal Conference of the Antilles, where Archbishop Nwachukwu is currently serving as Nuncio. The statement was made available to Channels Television.

It read, “The Holy Father has appointed Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, titular of Acquaviva and until now apostolic nuncio in Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Jamaica, Grenada, the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Santa Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname, and apostolic delegate in the Antilles; and Holy See Plenipotentiary Representative at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), as Holy See Permanent Observer to the United Nations and Specialised Institutions in Geneva and at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and Holy See Representative at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

“He sincerely appreciates your support during his mission in this region and requests that you accompany him with your prayers and friendship as he prepares to assume the new responsibilities.”

Previously on February 2018, Archbishop Nwachukwu was assigned as Apostolic Nuncio to Saint Lucia, Grenada and the Bahamas; and Apostolic Nuncio to Suriname on 9 March 2018; and Apostolic Nuncio to Belize on 8 September 2018.