Pope Francis has named Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty as the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria. This appointment marks the first time an Irish Archbishop will hold this position in Nigeria.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji of Owerri, who also serves as the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN). The statement was shared on the Catholic Broadcast Commission, Nigeria website.
He said, “With joy and gratitude to God, I extend a hearty welcome to Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty on behalf of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), clergy, religious, and lay faithful in Nigeria. We are thankful to His Holiness, Pope Francis, for appointing Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty as the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria to build on the good works of his predecessor, Archbishop Antonio Filipazzi’.
“With joy and gratitude to God, I extend a hearty welcome to Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty,” Ugorji said. “His appointment is a testament to the strong spiritual bond between our countries, recalling that many Irish missionaries played a significant role in spreading the faith in Nigeria.”
Archbishop Ugorji thanked Crotty for accepting the role and assured him of the church’s full support and cooperation as he begins his mission in Nigeria.
