Pope Francis has given a Nigerian Prelate and the Apostolic Nuncio to the Antilles, Archbishop Fortunatas Nwachukwu a new appointment.
He is the Vatican Permanent observer of the Holy See to the United NationsOffice and Specialised Institutions in Geneva.
61-year-old Nwachukwu who now replaces Bishop Ivan Jurkovic (previously appointed nuncio in Canada) was also appointed as the Permanent Observer to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Representative of the Holy See to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
The Nigerian cleric’s appointment was confirmed in a press release from the Office of the Secretariat of the Episcopal Conference of the Antilles dated 17th December, 2021.
The press release:
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.”
Prior to his recent appointment, Nwachukwu was the Apostolic Nuncio to Saint Lucia, Grenada, and the Bahamas. He got the appointment on 27 February 2018; and was also appointed as Apostolic Nuncio to Suriname on 9 March 2018; and Apostolic Nuncio to Belize on 8 September 2018.
Nwachukwu was born in Ntigha, in present-day Abia State, Nigeria, on 10 May 1960.
He studied theology and canon law in the seminary and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Aba on 17 June 1984.
He studied diplomacy at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy and entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 1 July 1994
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