AFRICA/NIGERIA - Appointment of Auxiliary Bishop of Onitsha

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On 6 February 2015 the Holy Father appointed Rev. Mgr. Denis Chidi Isizoh of the clergy of Onitsha, Official at the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Onitsha, Nigeria, assigning him the titular see of Legia.
The newly-elected Bishop was born on January 24, 1956 in Ogbunike in the Archdiocese of Onitsha, Anambra State. After primary school (St. Raphael's, Awkuzu and St. Vincent's, Ogbunike, 1964-1967/1970, with an interruption due to the Nigerian civil war), he entered the All Hallows minor Seminary (1971-1976). He studied Philosophy at the Bigard Memorial Seminary in Ikot Ekpene (1977-1981), and Theological studies at the Bigard Memorial Seminary in Enugu (1981-1985). He was ordained a priest on September 28, 1985 for the Archdiocese of Onitsha.
After ordination he has served in a number of pastoral and academic roles: 1985-1989: Formator at the All Hallows minor Seminary of Onitsha, assistant priest at Sts. John and Paul Parish, Awada, and Chaplain of various institutes and schools; 1989-1992: Studies in Sacred Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome; 1993-1996: Studies for a doctorate in Biblical Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University; since 1989: Secretary and Assistant to Cardinal Francis Arinze. Since 1995: Official of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 06/02/2015)