Canberra — Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Monsignor Jude Okolo as apostolic nuncio to Chad and the Central African Republic.

At the same time, Msgr Okolo, 51, was elevated to the dignity of archbishop. Until, his appointment on Saturday, he was counselor at the Apostolic Nunciature in Canberra, Australia.

Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference President, Archbishop Philip Wilson, warmly congratulated Msgr Okolo, on his appointment.

"I am delighted that Msgr Okolo, who has served both the current and the previous Apostolic Nuncio in Australia so well, will now take on that role himself," Archbishop Wilson said.

"The Australian Catholic Bishops and all Catholic people congratulate him on this appointment. The Catholic community in Australia bids farewell to him sadly because his presence among us has been such a joy. We wish him well as he takes up this new challenge and assure him of our prayers."

The Archbishop-elect was born in Kano, Nigeria, and ordained a priest on July 2, 1983. He holds a Doctorate in Canon Law and entered the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See in 1990, serving in Sri Lanka, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Switzerland and Liechtenstein and the Czech Republic.

He has been counselor at Australia's Aposotlic Nunciature since 2006 and is fluent in English, Italian, Spanish, German, French, Igbo and basic Czech.