Pope Leo XIV has appointed Nigerian priest Father Anthony Onyemuche Ekpo as the new Assessor for General Affairs in the Vatican’s Secretariat of State—one of the most influential offices in the Holy See.
Fr. Ekpo, 44, takes over from Fr. Roberto Campisi, who was recently named the Vatican’s permanent observer to UNESCO. In his new role, he will oversee and coordinate the activities of Catholic international organizations linked to the Holy See.
The appointment marks another milestone for the Nigerian Church in Rome, with Fr. Ekpo becoming one of the highest-ranking African priests currently serving in the Vatican.
A Distinguished Service Record
Fr. Ekpo first began working at the Vatican in 2016. For six years (2016–2023), he served in the Secretariat of State’s Section for General Affairs. In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him Undersecretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, where he worked closely with Cardinal Michael Czerny.
He expressed gratitude to his colleagues at the dicastery for “friendship and shared work,” adding that he prays for the grace to serve his new mission with “joy, passion, and dedication.”
“My desire is to collaborate with the superiors and staff to advance the vision of the dicastery and the mission of the Church,” Fr. Ekpo told Vatican News.
A Strong Academic and Pastoral Background
Ordained in 2011 for the Diocese of Umuahia, Nigeria, Fr. Ekpo pursued higher studies abroad:
PhD in Systematic Theology – Australian Catholic University (2013)
Doctorate in Canon Law – Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome (2021)
He is fluent in English, Italian, French, and Igbo.
Growing Nigerian Presence in the Vatican
Fr. Ekpo’s appointment follows another major Vatican announcement earlier this month—Pope Leo XIV named Nigerian priest Fr. Edward Daniang Daleng as Vice Regent of the Papal Household, the second-highest official in the department responsible for papal audiences.
These appointments highlight the growing global role of Nigerian clergy in the Catholic Church
Credit: CNA
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