From Magnus Eze, Enugu
Pope Francis has appointed a Nigerian cleric, Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, as Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations Office and Specialised Institutions, in Geneva, Switzerland .
He is also to serve as Permanent Observer of the Vatican to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and representative of the Holy See to the International Migrations Organisation (IOM).
Nwachukwu, who at present is the Apostolic Nuncio (Vatican Ambassador) to the Antilles, has also represented the Holy See at several international organisations in Geneva. He has worked in the diplomatic service of the Holy See since 1994 and has been an Apostolic Nuncio with the title of Archbishop since 2012.
Nwachukwu who hails from Umuogele Ntigha in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State was born in 1960 and ordained priest in 1984.
A statement from the Office of the Antilles Episcopal Conference Secretariat, Port of Spain, Trinidad, dated December 17, 2021, said Nwachukwu was transferred from Nicaragua to the current Mission on November 4, 2017, and arrived in Trinidad and Tobago to assume office on March 19, 2018.
“He is sincerely grateful for your support during his mission in this region and requests that you please accompany him with your prayers and friendship as he prepares to embrace the new responsibilities. He will still remain in charge of the Mission here in Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and Antilles, until he departs for the new mission, most likely at the beginning of March 2022,” it said.