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| Pope Francis |
Pope Francis has appointed the Most Reverend Michael F. Crotty as the new Apostolic Nuncio (ambassador) to Nigeria.
This announcement was made 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 nuncio, is an ecclesiastical diplomat who serves as an envoy or permanent diplomatic representative of the Holy See to a state or international organization.
Archbishop Michael F. Crotty, a native of Mitchelstown, Cork, Ireland, was born on March 26, 1970, and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Cloyne (Ireland) on July 3, 1994.
In response to the appointment, Archbishop Ugorji expressed gratitude to Pope Francis for appointing Archbishop Crotty as the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, to continue 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 was the first Apostolic Nuncio from Nigeria to Ireland.
“We appreciate Archbishop Crotty’s acceptance to serve in Nigeria and assure him of our full support and cooperation,” Ugorji said.
