Abuja, 22 August, 2023 / 3:41 pm (ACI Africa).
The outgoing Apostolic Nuncio in Nigeria has fostered the spreading of the Gospel during his years of service in the West African nation, the Archbishop of Abuja has said.
In a farewell message issued Tuesday, August 22, the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama describes Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi who has been transferred to Poland as “a faithful messenger of the Pope.”
“On this day when we celebrate our Blessed Mother and Queen, I wish to offer heartfelt gratitude to God for using you as a great instrument of evangelization in Nigeria for the over six years you have served as Apostolic Nuncio,” Archbishop Kaigama says.
He adds in reference to Archbishop Filipazzi, who was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria in April 2017, “Your pastoral zeal was obvious as you traveled the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, by air, by road and by boat.”
“So much has happened since you were assigned on mission to Nigeria,” he says, and continues, “Under your meticulous watch, hard work and facilitation, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, created more Dioceses, appointed new Bishops and made significant changes that have shaped and accelerated pastoral growth in Nigeria.”