The Vatican has appointed Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, as a member of the Council of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development in Vatican City.
The appointment was conveyed in a letter from Pope Leo XIV and signed by the Vatican Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin. Bishop Kukah will serve a five-year term alongside other Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops from across the world.
Among those appointed are Robert Walter McElroy, Matteo Zuppi, Konrad Krajewski and Fulgence Muteba Mugalu.
According to a statement by Pascal Salifu, Director of Communications for the Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Kukah was first appointed to the Council in 2022 when it was reconstituted by Pope Francis.
The Dicastery focuses on key areas of the Catholic Church’s social teachings, including the environment, human rights, migration, human development and social ethics.
Bishop Kukah has previously served the Vatican in several capacities. He was appointed in 1996 by Pope John Paul II and reappointed in 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI to the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, where he served for a decade.
He was also part of the Vatican delegation to Qatar in 2005 when diplomatic relations were established, and later served on the advisory board of the King Abdulazeez International Council for Interreligious Dialogue between 2018 and 2025.
In addition, the Council announced the appointment of Emmanuel Okechukwu, Director of Health Services at the Catholic Secretariat, to serve alongside priests, religious and lay members contributing their expertise.
Reacting to the development, Bishop Kukah expressed gratitude, stating that he is humbled by the appointment and thankful to the Pope for the opportunity to serve the Church.
He noted that the thematic focus of the Dicastery aligns closely with his research and pastoral interests, adding that he looks forward to contributing to efforts aimed at promoting Catholic values in addressing global challenges.
