Pope Leo appoints Nigerian priest assessor for general affairs of the Secretariat of State
http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=290067&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Father Anthony Onyemuche Ekpo. / Credit: Vatican MediaVatican City, Nov 19, 2025 / 14:53 pm (CNA).Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday appointed Nigerian priest Father Anthony Onyemuche Ekpo as assessor for general affairs of the Vatican Secretariat of State.Ekpo, 44, succeeds Father Roberto Campisi, who was appointed permanent observer of the Holy See to UNESCO in September. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing the activities of Catholic international organizations connected to the Vatican.The Nigeria-born priest first began his service with the Holy See in 2016. He worked with the Vatican's Section for General Affairs for six years between 2016 and 2023.In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him undersecretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development to assist the work of its prefect Cardinal Michael Czerny. Epko thanked his colleagues at the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development "for their friendship and shared work over these years" and pr...
Father Anthony Onyemuche Ekpo. / Credit: Vatican Media
Vatican City, Nov 19, 2025 / 14:53 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday appointed Nigerian priest Father Anthony Onyemuche Ekpo as assessor for general affairs of the Vatican Secretariat of State.
Ekpo, 44, succeeds Father Roberto Campisi, who was appointed permanent observer of the Holy See to UNESCO in September. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing the activities of Catholic international organizations connected to the Vatican.
The Nigeria-born priest first began his service with the Holy See in 2016. He worked with the Vatican's Section for General Affairs for six years between 2016 and 2023.
In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him undersecretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development to assist the work of its prefect Cardinal Michael Czerny.
Epko thanked his colleagues at the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development "for their friendship and shared work over these years" and prayed for ??the grace to carry out his new role with the Secretariat of State with "joy, passion, and dedication," Vatican News reported on Wednesday.
"My desire is to be able to collaborate with the superiors and employees of the dicastery, to advance the vision of the dicastery and the mission of the Church," Ekpo told Vatican News.
Ordained a priest for the Diocese of Umuahia, Nigeria, in 2011, Epko continued his theological training abroad.
In 2013, he obtained a doctorate in systematic theology from the Australian Catholic University as well as a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 2021.
He is fluent in English, Italian, French, and the Nigerian language Igbo.
Earlier this month, Pope Leo appointed Nigerian priest Father Edward Daniang Daleng as vice regent of the Papal Household, the second-highest position in the Vatican office that organizes audiences with the pope.
Full Article
http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&url=10&view=post&articleid=290066&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Pope Leo XIV. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN NewsACI Prensa Staff, Nov 19, 2025 / 15:23 pm (CNA).In reply to journalists' questions last night as he left Castel Gandolfo, which he now regularly visits, Pope Leo XIV described what his typical Tuesday day off is like.The pontiff shared that he does "a little reading, a little work. Every day there is correspondence, phone calls; there are some matters that are perhaps more important, more recent. A little tennis, a little swimming."A passionate tennis fan since childhood, the Holy Father in May received at the Vatican Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner, currently ranked second in the world (behind Carlos Alcaraz) and at that time was ranked first.When asked why he needs these moments of rest, Leo XIV emphasized on Nov. 19 that "to take good care of yourself, human beings… everyone, should do some activity for the body, the soul, all together.""I think it does me a lot of good. So it's a time, a break during the week that helps a l...
http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&url=10&view=post&articleid=290065&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Hungary's ambassador to the Holy See Eduard Habsburg speaks to EWTN News in 2023. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNAVatican City, Nov 19, 2025 / 15:53 pm (CNA).Archduke of Austria Eduard Habsburg has served as Hungary's ambassador to the Holy See since 2015 and described his post at the Vatican as "the greatest 10 years of my life."First presenting his credentials to Pope Francis on Dec. 8, 2015, Habsburg told EWTN News reporter Colm Flynn that after a decade on the job, he has "seen it all" and now wants to dedicate more time to his family, particularly his parents."I felt that 10 years is a good term. It's far longer than ambassadors usually have here," he said in the exclusive interview."I think I've seen everything you can see here, including a conclave, visits by my prime minister, exciting moments," he added. "In a way, I'm going to miss it but also family is important." Though his term at the Vatican is drawing to a close, the outgoing ambassador said he will likely contin...
http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&url=10&view=post&articleid=290064&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
St. Patrick Cathedral in the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina. / Credit: Diocese of CharlotteWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 19, 2025 / 16:23 pm (CNA).Bishop Michael T. Martin of the Diocese of Charlotte issued a Mass dispensation for any person who fears he or she may be subject to deportation and called for a day of prayer and fasting for migrants as immigration enforcement ramps up throughout North Carolina.The bishop published the statement on Nov. 18 telling those "who are afraid to come to church" out of fear they could be deported "are not obligated to attend Mass." These conditions, he said, are "circumstances beyond your control."Martin said the Church has always taught that the normal Sunday Mass obligation does not apply when a person cannot attend due to situations he or she does not control."I encourage you to take consolation in Jesus' refrain when the disciples were in the boat being swamped by stormy seas: 'Do not be afraid!' (Mt 14:27)," Martin added. "Your ...
