Bishop Hassan Kukah of the Diocese of Sokoto has been appointed by His Holiness Pope Leo IV to a significant position within the Vatican City. He will serve as a Member of the Council of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development, a role that will allow him to influence the Catholic Church’s teachings and positions on critical global challenges such as the environment, human rights, migration, and human development.

The appointment was formally conveyed in a letter addressed to Bishop Kukah by the Pope, signed by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Peter Parolin. This prestigious five-year term on the Council places Bishop Kukah among distinguished Cardinals, Archbishops, and Bishops from around the world. Other notable members include Cardinal Archbishop Walter McElroy of Washington, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna, Cardinal Conrad Krajewski of Poland, and Archbishop Fulgence Mugalu of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Dicastery for Integral Human Development is responsible for addressing core thematic issues related to the Catholic Church’s Social Teachings, encompassing areas like the environment, human rights, migration, human development, and social ethics. Bishop Kukah expressed his humility regarding the appointment, thanking the Holy Father for the opportunity to contribute. He noted that the thematic areas of the Dicastery align perfectly with his research and pastoral interests, and he eagerly anticipates contributing to embedding Catholic ethos into public life, particularly in a world grappling with the wounds of human greed.

This is not Bishop Kukah’s first engagement with Vatican councils. He was initially appointed to this very Council in 2022 when it was reconstituted by Pope Francis. Prior to that, he served on the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue for a decade, an appointment made by Pope John Paul II in 1996 and reaffirmed by Pope Benedict IV in 2005. His experience also includes representing the Vatican on the Advisory Board of the King Abdulazeez International Council for Interreligious Dialogue (KAICIID) from 2018 to 2025, an appointment by Pope Francis. Furthermore, Dr. Emmanuel Okechukwu, Director of Health Services at the Catholic Secretariat, has also been appointed to serve on the Council, bringing his expertise alongside other priests, religious, and laity.