Nigerian priest to lead Vatican Dicastery overseeing Integral Human Development

The Holy Father, Pope Francis has appointed Msgr. Anthony Onyemuche Ekpo as Under-Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. Until his appointment as Under-Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Msgr. Ekpo has served as an official at the Section for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State. Msgr. Anthony Onyemuche Ekpo was born on 24 September 1981 in Umudike, Abia State. He was ordained a priest on July 30, 2011 for the Diocese of Umuahia. After receiving a Doctorate in Systematic Theology from the Australian Catholic University in 2013, he obtained a Doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 2021. He was appointed Chaplain to Pope Francis on March 17, 2023. Besides Igbo and English, Msgr. Ekpo speaks Italian and French. He has been an official in the General Affairs Section of the Secretariat of State Since September 5, 2016.