By Paschal Norbert

VATICAN CITY, NOVEMBER 20, 2025 (CISA) – Pope Leo XIV has appointed Nigerian-born theologian and canonist Monsignor Anthony Onyemuche Ekpo as the new Assessor for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, marking yet another significant African appointment to the Roman Curia.

The announcement was made on November 19, in the Library of the Secretariat of State by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, immediately after the Angelus, in the presence of senior Vatican officials, including Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, and Monsignor Luciano Russo.

Monsignor Ekpo’s appointment follows closely on the heels of Pope Leo XIV’s naming of another Nigerian, Augustinian Fr. Edward Daniang Daleng, OSA, as Vice-Regent of the Prefecture of the Papal Household, underscoring what observers see as the Holy Father’s increased confidence in African clergy serving in global Church leadership.

The announcement of appointments in the Library of the Secretariat of State

The 44-year-old prelate is no stranger to the Secretariat of State. He previously worked in the Section for General Affairs for nearly six years before Pope Francis appointed him Undersecretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development in April 2023.

Announcing his transition, the Vatican highlighted the depth of his pastoral, academic, and administrative experience. Born in Umudike, Nigeria, in 1981, Msgr. Ekpo was ordained a priest in 2011 and incardinated in the Diocese of Umuahia. He holds two doctorates, a Doctorate in Systematic Theology from the Australian Catholic University (2013) and a Doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Gregorian University (2021).

His new role places him at the heart of the Church’s central administration, assisting in the coordination of the Pope’s daily affairs and overseeing internal matters that support the governance of the universal Church.

Speaking on the day of his departure from the Dicastery for Integral Human Development, Msgr. Ekpo expressed gratitude and renewed commitment to service, saying: “My desire is to be able to collaborate with the superiors and employees of the Dicastery to carry forward the vision of the Dicastery and the mission of the Church.”

The Secretary of State,the new Assessor for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, Fr Ekpo

He thanked his leaders and colleagues “for their friendship and the work shared over these years,” praying that God may grant him “the grace to carry out, with joy, passion and dedication” his service to the Church.

At the Dicastery, he worked closely with Cardinal Michael Czerny, Sr. Alessandra Smerilli, and Cardinal Fabio Baggio, contributing to the Church’s mission in the areas of justice, peace, sustainable development, and care for migrants and the vulnerable.

Monsignor Ekpo succeeds Msgr. Roberto Campisi, who was appointed in September as the Holy See’s Permanent Observer to UNESCO, with additional responsibility for international Catholic organizations.

Fluent in Igbo, English, Italian, and French, Monsignor Ekpo is part of a growing cohort of African clergy assuming key responsibilities in global Church administration.

New Undersecretary for Relations with States also announced

In a parallel appointment, Pope Leo XIV named Monsignor Mihăiţă Blaj as the new Undersecretary of the Section for Relations with States and International Organizations. The Romanian priest and diplomat previously served as a Nunciature Counsellor in the same section.

The Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin greeting the new Undersecretary for the Section for Relations with States, Monsignor Blaj

Born in Gherăeşti, Romania, in 1978 and ordained in 2004, Monsignor Blaj is a seasoned diplomat who has served at Vatican embassies in Ecuador, Georgia, and Chad. He joined the Holy See’s diplomatic service in 2012 and moved to the Secretariat of State in 2022. He speaks Italian, French, English, Spanish, and German.

Cardinal Parolin personally welcomed both appointees, describing their service as vital to the Church’s mission in global governance, diplomacy, and the coordination of pastoral priorities under Pope Leo XIV.