Accra, March. 1, GNA - Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Reverend Monsignor Leon Kalenga Badikebele as his Apostolic Nuncio (Ambassador of the Holy See) to Ghana.

Monsignor Kalenga replaces Archbishop George Kocherry who, after having served for over seven years in Ghana as Nuncio has been posted to Zimbabwe. Monsignor Kalenga will be the seventh Nuncio to Ghana. This contained in press release issued on Saturday by Reverend Monsignor Mark Kadima, Charge de Affaires.

Monsignor Kalenga was born on July 17, 1956 in Kamina, Democratic Republic of Congo. He was ordained a priest on September 5, 1982. He holds a Doctorate Degree in Canon Law.

He entered the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See in 1990 and has since served in the embassies of the Holy See in Haiti, Guatemala, Zambia, Brazil, Egypt, and Zimbabwe. Monsignor Kalenga is moving to Ghana from Japan where he was the Counsellor at the Apostolic Nunciature.

With this new appointment is also his promotion by the Pope from Monsignor to the rank of an Archbishop. The government of Ghana has officially been informed about the appointment of Rev Monsignor Leon Kalenga Badikebele. 01 March 08