Pope Benedict XVI has named Nigerian Monsignor Fortunatus Nwachukwu as the Head of Protocol at the Vatican Secretariat of State. The Vatican Press Office announced the appointment which became effective immediately.
Monsignor Fortunatus Nwachukwu is a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Aba, and was born in Ntigha in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria on May 10, 1960. He was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood on June 17, 1984 after completing his priestly training, which included Bachelors degrees in Philosophy and Theology at Bigard Memorial Seminary (now St. Joseph's Major Seminary), Ikot Ekpene, and Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu respectively.
Immediately following his priestly ordination, the young Fortunatus was thrown into the challenges of priestly ministry, and brought his extraordinary God-given talents to bear on the enormous responsibilities that could have overwhelmed many of his age. In his first two years as a priest, he was saddled with the task of combining several pastoral and academic assignments concurrently. He served as the Dean, then Vice Rector at the Immaculate Conception Seminary, Umuahia, Parish Administrator of the St. Anna's Catholic Parish, Ibeku-Umuahia, as well as Student's Chaplain at the then College of Agriculture Umudike and the Umudike Campus of Alvan-Ikoku College of Education.
In 1986, he was sent to Europe for a specialization in Biblical Studies. He studied at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, the St Thomas Aquinas University, the Pontifical Urbaniana University, and the Pontifical Ecclesiastical (Diplomatic) Academy, all in Rome. He also studied at the Jesuit Theological Faculty of Sankt Georgen University in Frankfurt, and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He obtained a Licentiate Degree in Sacred Scriptures (LSS), completed the habilitation for the Doctorate (CD) and a specialization in Textual Criticism of the Old Testament. He also obtained Doctorate Degrees respectively in Systematic Theology (STD) specializing in Systematics/Africa Theology, and in Canon/International Law (DCL) specializing in Relations between the Holy see and Israel. Apart from English language, he is also proficient in French, German, Spanish, Italian, Arabic and Modern Hebrew. His studies equally exposed him to Biblical Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.
Monsignor Fortunatus Nwachukwu entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1994. The Holy See is the Central Government of the world Catholic Church, and has the Vatican as its territorial guarantee. Monsignor Nwachukwu has represented the Holy See as the Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature (Embassy) of the Vatican in Ghana (which also serves Togo and Benin Republic), in Paraguay, in Algeria and Tunisia. He also served as the Counsellor at the Vatican's Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office and other Internationals Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland. Prior to his recent appointment, he served in the section of relations with states at the Vatican's Secretariat of State.
Monsignor Nwachukwu has published many books and academic articles. Although very unassuming, he is in every sense a "stubborn optimist", which is clearly reflected in his 2003 publication, "The Courage To Change." Fundamental to his optimism is the philosophy that "every human being is a little bomb of potentialities". Hence, his conviction that it is never too late to start or start again. The transformation of a society (he insists) begins by giving oneself a chance for change or growth, then helping the person near to have a chance to change himself or herself, and it will spread like a wildfire. He is adamant that little efforts and tiny seeds, sown and nurtured with care, will transform a society.
Monsignor Nwachukwu insists that Nigeria needs a breed of people who believe in immortality – not just as a religious reality, but the "imprinting of one's name indelibly in the mind of people, through one's goodness". This conviction is evident in his zeal to lend a helping hand to the other. For instance, through the generosity of his friends, he has established a scholarship scheme for student from families with particular financial difficulties, and more that 100 students have benefited from the program in the past 14 years. More than 150 families have also benefited from a "child adoption from a distance" project. This project offers to assists a child (while still remaining with the family), by providing for his/her education and general upkeep. Representatives of the foundation visit the kids and their families periodically. A "Babies Home" is also under construction for orphaned children.
We congratulate Monsignor Fortunatus Nwachukwu for the pride he has brought to our country, and wish him well in his service to humanity.
Matthew Ugochukwu Ihuoma , Inuvik
NWT, Canada
Sunday, September 23, 2007
