Our Reporter, Abuja
The Vatican has appointed His Grace, Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, as a member of the Council of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, a key body shaping the Church’s global social mission.
According to a statement by Fr. Pascal Salifu, Director of Communications Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, the appointment was conveyed in a letter addressed to Bishop Kukah by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and signed by the Vatican Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin.
With this role, Bishop Kukah joins a select group of cardinals, archbishops and bishops from across the world tasked with advancing the Catholic Church’s social teachings. Members of the Council include the Archbishop of Washington, Robert Walter McElroy; Matteo Zuppi of Bologna; Konrad Krajewski; and Archbishop Fulgence Muteba Mugalu of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bishop Kukah was first appointed to the Council in 2022 following its reconstitution by Pope Francis. The Dicastery addresses critical global concerns, including human rights, migration, environmental protection, human development and social ethics.
He brings extensive experience in interreligious dialogue and global Church engagement. He was appointed by Pope John Paul II in 1996 and reappointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 to serve on the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue for a decade. He also participated in the Vatican delegation to Qatar when the country established diplomatic relations with the Holy See in 2005.
In 2018, Pope Francis further appointed him to the Advisory Board of the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), where he served until 2025.
The Council also named Emmanuel Okechukwu, Director of Health Services at the Catholic Secretariat, to serve alongside priests, religious and lay members contributing their expertise to the Council’s work.
Reacting to the appointment, Bishop Kukah expressed gratitude, describing it as an opportunity to advance the Church’s mission in a troubled world.
“I am humbled by this appointment and deeply grateful to the Holy Father for the opportunity to serve the Church,” he said, noting that the Dicastery’s focus aligns closely with his research and pastoral interests.
He added that he looks forward to contributing to efforts aimed at promoting Catholic values in public life, particularly at a time when global challenges are increasingly shaped by human greed.
