Papal appointments for Papua New Guinea, Uganda and Nigeria

By Vatican News staff reporter

The Holy See on Wednesday announced that Pope Francis has named Monsignor Fermín Emilio Sosa Rodríguez as the new Apostolic Nuncio in Papua New Guinea.

The Holy Father also provided for two African dioceses on Wednesday, naming Father Raphael P’Mony Wokorach, M.C.C.J., as Bishop of Nebbi, Uganda; and Father David Ajang as Bishop of Lafia, Nigeria.

Appointment of Apostolic Nuncio in Papua New Guinea

The Holy Father has appointed as apostolic nuncio in Papua New Guinea the Reverend Msgr. Fermín Emilio Sosa Rodríguez, nunciature counsellor, elevating him at the same time to the titular see of Viruno, with the dignity of archbishop.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Fermín Emilio Sosa Rodríguez was born in Izamal, Mexico, on 12 April 1968.

He was ordained a priest on 12 July 1998, and incardinated in the archdiocese of Yucatán, Mexico.

He graduated in canon law.

He entered the Holy See Diplomatic Service on 1 January 2003, and served in the pontifical representations in Papua New Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, the United States of America, Canada, and Serbia.

He knows Spanish, English, Italian and French.

Appointment of Bishop of Nebbi, Uganda

The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of the diocese of Nebbi, Uganda, the Reverend Fr. Raphael P’Mony Wokorach, M.C.C.J., until now Pontifical Commissioner of the Congregation Apostles of Jesus.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Raphael P’Mony Wokorach, M.C.C.J., was born on 21 January 1961 in Ojigo, in the diocese of Arua. After his studies at the Saint Charles Lwanga College of Koboko he attended the minor seminary of Arua for five years (1975-1979), and subsequently entered the Institute of Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus, giving his religious vows on 12 October 1992. He carried out his studies in philosophy at the Uganda Martyrs National Major Seminary Alokolum (1988-1989), and in theology at Tangaza University College of Nairobi (1989-1993). He holds a master’s degree in philosophy.

He was ordained a priest on 25 September1993, and has held the following offices: parish ministry in Uganda (1993-1994); missionary in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, bursar of the Comboni Community in Kisangani and formator of the postulate of the Institute (1994-2001); missionary in Togo and formator of Comboni postulants (2001-2003); missionary in Chicago, in the United States, and formator in the Comboni International Theologate (2003-2007); missionary in Nairobi, Kenya, formator and lecturer at Tangaza University College (2007-2015); member of the Provincial Council of Kenya and vice provincial (2011-2013); apostolic visitor of the Apostles of Jesus Congregation (2015-2018) and, since 2018, Pontifical Commissioner of the same Congregation, based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Appointment of Bishop of Lafia, Nigeria

The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of the diocese of Lafia, Nigeria, the Reverend David Ajang, until now parish priest of the Immaculate Conception parish and dean of Zaramaganda.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. David Ajang was born on 31 March 1970 in Zaria, in the diocese of the same name. After his primary and middle school education, he attended the Saint John Vianney Minor Seminary in Barkin Ladi (1982-1987). As a seminarian of the metropolitan archdiocese of Jos, he carried out his studies in philosophy at the Saint Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Makurdi (1987-1990), and in theology at Saint Augustine’s Major Seminary in Jos (1990-1994).

He was ordained a priest on 3 December 1994 and incardinated in the metropolitan archdiocese of Jos. He was subsequently awarded a licentiate in philosophy from the Pontifical Urban University of Rome (2002-2004) and a doctorate from the University of Jos.

After priestly ordination he held the following offices: parish vicar of Saint James in Gombe (1994-1995); parish priest of Saint Molumba in Nasarawa Eggon, vocational director of the metropolitan archdiocese of Jos; parish vicar of Saint Theresa in Jos (1998-1999); parish priest of the Immaculate Conception parish in Zaramaganda and youth chaplain of the metropolitan archdiocese of Jos (1999-2001); administrator of the Our Lady of Fatima Cathedral (2001-2002), and formator at Saint Augustine’s Major Seminary in Jos (2004-2012); parish priest of the Uganda Martyrs parish and dean in Kuru. Since 2012 he has served as member of the college of consultors of the metropolitan archdiocese of Jos; since 2015, chaplain of the governor of the State of Plateau, and since 2018, parish priest of the Immaculate Conception parish and dean of Zaramaganda.