Pope Francis appoints new ambassador to Nigeria

Pope Francis has appointed the Most Reverend Michael F. Crotty, as the new Apostolic Nuncio (ambassador) to Nigeria.

This was contained in a communiqué issued on Tuesday by the Apostolic Nunciature (Embassy of the Holy See) to Nigeria and endorsed by Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, Archbishop of Owerri and President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).

An apostolic nuncio, also known as a papal nuncio or simply as a nuncio, is an ecclesiastical diplomat, serving as an envoy or a permanent diplomatic representative of the Holy See to a state or to an international organization.

Archbishop Michael F. Crotty, a native of Mitchelstown, Cork, Ireland, was born on March 26, 1970 and on July 3, 1994 ordained a priest for the Diocese of Cloyne (Ireland).

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Speaking on the appointment, Archbishop Ugorji thanked Pope Francis for appointing Archbishop Crotty as the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria to build on the good works of his predecessor, Archbishop Antonio Filipazzi.

“We also celebrate the historic connection between our nations, as Archbishop Crotty becomes our first Apostolic Nuncio from Ireland, just as Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, who served as the first Apostolic Nuncio from Nigeria in Ireland.

“We appreciate Archbishop Crotty’s acceptance of serving in Nigeria and assure him of our full support and cooperation,” Ugorji said.