Bishop Hassan Kukah has been appointed by Pope Leo IV to serve on the Council of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development, a key body within the Vatican.

In this role, Bishop Kukah will help shape the Catholic Church’s stance on critical global issues, including environmental stewardship, human rights, migration, and holistic human development.

The appointment was formally communicated through a letter signed by Cardinal Peter Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, confirming a prestigious five-year term.

Bishop Kukah joins a distinguished international roster, including Cardinal Archbishop Walter McElroy of Washington, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna, Cardinal Conrad Krajewski of Poland, and Archbishop Fulgence Mugalu of Lubumbashi, DR Congo.

The Dicastery for Integral Human Development is tasked with promoting the Church’s social teachings, emphasizing ethical engagement with environmental issues, migration, and global social equity.

Bishop Kukah expressed humility and gratitude, noting the Council’s thematic priorities align with his pastoral and research interests. He stated he looks forward to embedding Catholic values into public discourse, particularly in addressing human greed and social injustice.

This is not his first Vatican engagement. Kukah was appointed to this Council in 2022 by Pope Francis, having previously served on the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue for over a decade, first appointed by Pope John Paul II in 1996 and reaffirmed by Pope Benedict IV in 2005.

His international experience also includes representing the Vatican on the Advisory Board of the KAICIID International Dialogue Centre from 2018 to 2025, fostering interreligious cooperation.

In addition, Dr. Emmanuel Okechukwu, Director of Health Services at the Catholic Secretariat, has also been appointed to the Council, adding expertise alongside other priests, religious, and lay members.