Pope Francis appoints Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo as the new Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland

13 May 2017

Today the Holy Father, Pope Francis, has appointed His Excellency Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, Titular Archbishop of Novica, as the Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland.

It is expected that the date of Archbishop Okolo’s arrival to Ireland will occur during the summer. Please see below a summary of the ministry of Archbishop Okolo.

ENDS

Notes for Editors

· Please contact the Catholic Communications Office if you require a photograph of Archbishop Okolo for publication.

· His Excellency Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo was born in Kano, Nigeria, on the 18 December 1956. He was ordained to the priesthood on 2 July 1983 for the Diocese of Nnewi. Archbishop Jude undertook his post-graduate studies in Rome, and concluded with a doctorate in Canon Law. Called to the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See, he began his first assignment in June 1990, in Sri Lanka. Later, he served in the following Pontifical Representations: Haiti, the Antillean Islands (including Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Saint Lucia, the Bahamas, Jamaica, etc.), Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Australia. Archbishop Okolo was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to the Central African Republic and Chad on the 2 August 2008. Subsequently, on 7 October 2013, he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to the Dominican Republic and Apostolic Delegate in Puerto Rico. Archbishop Okolo speaks Igbo, English, French, Italian, Czech, Spanish and German. His interests include sacred music, piano, reading and table tennis.

For media contact: Catholic Communications Office Maynooth: Martin Long 00353 (0) 86 172 7678 and Brenda Drumm 00353 (0) 87 310 4444