Pope Leo XIV Gives Bishop Kukah Notable Appointment as Details Emerge
- Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Diocese of Sokoto as a Member of the Council of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development
- Bishop Kukah joined other prominent Cardinals, Archbishops, and Bishops from around the world to serve a five-year term on the Council
- Bishop Kukah expressed humility and gratitude to the Pope, highlighting his commitment to advancing the Catholic ethos in public life
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Diocese of Sokoto to a prominent position in the Vatican City.
The Nigerian cleric will serve as a Member of the Council of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development, a body responsible for shaping the Catholic Church’s teachings on global issues such as the environment, human rights, migration, and human development.
Source: Getty Images
A statement by Fr Pascal Salifu, Director of Communications for the Diocese of Sokoto, confirmed that Bishop Kukah received the appointment in a letter from the Pope, signed by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Peter Parolin.
Global collaboration on key social issues
By this appointment, Bishop Kukah joins “other prominent Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops from all over the world to serve a five-year term on the Council,” the statement said.
He will work alongside leaders including Cardinal Walter McElroy of Washington, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna, Cardinal Conrad Krajewski of Poland, and Archbishop Fulgence Mugalu of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Premium Times reported.
The Dicastery addresses major social themes within Catholic teachings, including environmental stewardship, human rights, migration, human development, and social ethics. Bishop Kukah was first appointed to the Council in 2022 when it was reconstituted by Pope Francis.
Bishop Kukah expresses humility and commitment
Reacting to his appointment, Bishop Kukah said he is humbled by the recognition and expressed gratitude to the Pope for the opportunity to serve the Church.
Source: UGC
He stated:
“The thematic areas of the Dicastery fit perfectly into my areas of research and pastoral interest, and I look forward to contributing to helping to infuse the Catholic ethos into public life in a world that has become severely wounded by human greed.”
Longstanding service in Vatican diplomacy
Bishop Kukah has a distinguished record of service within the Vatican, having been appointed by Pope John Paul II in 1996 and re-appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 to the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
He was also part of the Vatican delegation to Qatar in 2005 and represents the Vatican on the Advisory Board of the King Abdulazeez International Centre for Interreligious Dialogue (KAICIID) from 2018 to 2025.
Fr Pascal Salifu added that the Council also appointed Dr Emmanuel Okechukwu, Director of Health Services at the Catholic Secretariat, to contribute alongside priests, religious leaders, and the laity, bringing their expertise to the work of the Dicastery.
This latest appointment marks the Vatican’s first formal recognition of a Nigerian cleric in this high-level capacity, reflecting both Bishop Kukah’s global influence and the Catholic Church’s commitment to addressing pressing social challenges.
Pope Leo XIV gives Nigerian cleric appointment
Previously, Legit.ng reported that Pope Leo XIV has appointed Nigerian priest Father Anthony Onyemuche Ekpo as the new assessor for general affairs at the Secretariat of State.
His appointment places him at the heart of one of the Vatican’s most central administrative departments, where he will help coordinate the work of Catholic international organisations linked to the Holy See.
Source: Legit.ng
