Pope Francis has appointed Most Reverend Michael Crotty as the new Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria.

This was contained in a communique issued by the Apostolic Nunciature to Nigeria.

The National Director of Social Communications, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Rev. Fr. Michael Umoh, in a statement on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, noted that the Catholic Bishops highlighted the historic connection between Nigeria and Ireland.

Speaking on his new appointment, Crotty expressed gratitude to Pope Francis for the honour and pledged to serve all Nigerians, irrespective of their religious or ethnic backgrounds, to the best of his abilities.

The new Nuncio, who acknowledged the deep bonds of faith and friendship established by generations of Irish missionaries between Ireland and Nigeria, further noted the historic significance of his appointment, which he said coincides with the “Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel”.

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The Archbishop enjoined Nigerian Catholics to pray for Pope Francis through the intercession of “Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Saint Patrick”.

While noting that Crotty was the first Apostolic Nuncio from Ireland to Nigeria, mirroring Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo’s tenure as the first Nigerian Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) assured Crotty of their full support and cooperation, even as they prayed for a fruitful and blessed mission.

The CBCN President and Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, expressed gratitude to Pope Francis for  Crotty’s appointment.

Archbishop Crotty was born in Mitchelstown, Co. Cork, Ireland, and ordained a priest in 1994.

He has served in various capacities across Kenya, Canada, Iraq, Jordan, the Vatican, Spain, and recently held the positions of Apostolic Nuncio to Burkina Faso and Niger.

According to the statement, Crotty brings a wealth of experience and multilingual proficiency to his new role in Nigeria.

The Star