Pope Benedict XVI appoints Nigerian Archbishop to Vatican post

Pope Benedict XVI has appointed the Archbishop of Jos, Ignatius Kaigama, to the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelisation.

The Vatican department is aimed at countering growing secularisation, and Kaigama's appointment is seen as a sign of attention to two problematic regions for the Catholic Church.

The Archbishop of Beirut of the Maronites, Paul Matar will also be joining the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelisation.

Both appointments come despite the raging conflict in Syria, which has also raised tensions within Lebanon. The pope is expected to visit Beirut from September 14-16, with a message calling for peaceful co-existence between religions in the region.

Thousands of people have been killed in Jos in recent years, in clashes between the Christian and Muslim communities, and a suicide attack on a Catholic church in March.

Benedict created the pontifical council for new evangelisation in 2010.