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Ekwulobia-Nigeria, VNA – What began as a desire to serve the Church through lay ministry developed into what could be described as the highest level of position in the Catholic Church a young Peter Ebere Okpaleke of Nigeria, West Africa could think of.
Born March 1, 1963, the priestly journey of a young man, perhaps, best captioned Altar Server turned a Cardinal began in 1972 when he was providentially called to serve at mass without having been an Altar Server. After that encounter, Peter later officially joined Altar Servers. He felt a greater calling and joined St. John Bosco seminary Isuaniocha in the 1982.
He was ordained a priest on August 22, 1992, by the Late Bishop Simon Akwali Okafor, the then Auxiliary Bishop of Awka Diocese.
Bishop Peter Ebere Okpaleke was first appointed Bishop of Ahiara Diocese by Pope Benedict XVI on 7 December 2012 and ordained Bishop on 21 May 2013. He resigned as Bishop of Ahiara on 19 February 2018.
Why Bishop Peter Ebere Okpaleke resigned as Bishop of Ahiara Diocese
His appointment was rejected by a section of the clergy and laity of the Nigerian Diocese.
The rejection of the Clergy of Nigeria’s Awka Diocese was based on the claim that the Episcopal candidate comes from outside the dominant ethnic group of Ahiara Diocese, the Mbaise, and that Priests of the Diocese feel under-represented in the Catholic Church hierarchy in the West African nation.
He was impeded from setting foot in the territory covered by Ahiara Diocese and many Church activities halted including the ordination of candidates to Diaconate.
The May 2013 Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Okpaleke took place outside Ahiara Diocese, at Seat of Wisdom Seminary, Ulakwo, in Nigeria’s Owerri Archdiocese.
The rejection persisted even after the Nigerian Bishop’s Consecration. In July 2017, Pope Francis directed all members of Clergy of Ahiara Diocese to pledge fidelity to him in writing, and to express their acceptance of the appointment of Bishop Okpaleke as their Shepherd.
According to a report by Agenzia Fides, the Holy Father “received 200 letters from individual priests of the Diocese of Ahiara, in which they manifested to him obedience and fidelity. Some priests, however, pointed out their psychological difficulty in collaborating with the Bishop (Okpaleke) after years of conflict.”
Pope Francis did not take the route of canonical sanctions and instead, through the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, directed the Clergy of Ahiara Diocese “to reflect on the grave damage inflicted on the Church of Christ and expressed hope that in the future they will never again repeat such unreasonable actions opposing a Bishop legitimately appointed by the Supreme Pontiff,” Agenzia Fides reported.
Having failed to exercise his Episcopal Ministry in the Nigerian Diocese of Ahiara, Bishop Okpaleke made known to Pope Francis his decision to resign in writing.
In his letter of resignation, the Nigerian Bishop made reference to the sustained opposition to his appointment saying, “The situation in Ahiara Diocese to the best of my knowledge has not improved. Most importantly, this has been threatening my spiritual life.”
“I am convinced, in conscience that my remaining the Bishop of Ahiara is no longer beneficial to the Church,” Bishop Okpaleke stated in his 14 February 2018 letter addressed to Pope Francis.
He added, “I do not think that my apostolate in a diocese where a group of priests and lay faithful are very ill-disposed to have me in their midst would be effective.”
“Exercising the ministry in a diocese where priests who are supposed to be my immediate and closest collaborators, brothers, friends and sons are at war with one another, with the laity and with me as their chief shepherd would be disastrous and a threat to salvation of souls – including my own soul,” the Bishop explained in his resignation letter.
He said his decision to resign was “the only option to facilitate re-evangelisation of the faithful of the Diocese especially the priests.”
On 19 February 2018, the Holy Father accepted Bishop Okpaleke’s resignation and “relieved him of the pastoral care of the Diocese of Ahiara.”
A year later, Pope Francis announced the establishment of the Diocese of Ekwulobia in Southeastern Nigeria.
The new Diocese of Ekwulobia
On 5 March 2020, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Okpaleke to the newly created Diocese of Ekwulobia. It is a Diocese in Anambra State that was formerly under the jurisdiction of Awka Diocese. Ekwulobia Diocese became a suffragan Diocese of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Onitsha.
In entrusting the new Diocese to Bishop Okpaleke, the Holy Father’s decree read: “Pope Francis, Servant of the Servants of God, to Venerable Brother Peter Ebere Okpaleke, until now the Emeritus Bishop of Ahiara, appointed the first Bishop of the newly created Diocese of Ekwulobia, greetings, and Apostolic Blessing. While showing mercy and compassion towards everyone, you must assist us in spreading the teachings of Christ that we may grow in the charity of Jesus, and His Word may be the light that illumines the way of all that trust in Him. Moreover, we turn to you Venerable Brother, who, in your work as Bishop, manifested good disposition of heart and adequate intelligence, and appear to us suitable for directing the flock entrusted to your care.”
Installation Mass
The Right Reverend Okpaleke was installed Bishop in May 2020 at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Cathedral, Ekwulobia. The Archbishop of Onitsha, Valerian Okeke presided over the Installation Mass.
In his homily, Archbishop Valerian Okeke who was also the designated papal delegate at the ceremony reminded Bishop Okpalaeke that he had been called to guide and strengthen the flock in the new Diocese. For his part, Bishop of Awka Diocese, Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor, expressed joy at the erection of the new Diocese as something that had long been sought-after. He also expressed confidence that Bishop Okpalaeke would be a good Chief Shepherd of the Diocese.
The newly installed Bishop Okpaleke said that in his pastoral ministry, he would strive to emphasise evangelisation at the local level. He invited the faithful to a “personal and intimate relationship with Jesus.”
Announcement as Cardinal
Surprising everyone on Sunday at the conclusion of the Regina Coeli, Pope Francis announced that he will create 21 new Cardinals at a consistory on 27 August.
Among these new Cardinals-designate is Bishop Peter Eberechukwu Okpaleke of Ekwulobia, in the Eastern region of Nigeria. Bishop Okpaleke joins the college of Cardinals which currently consists of 208 cardinals, of whom 117 are electors.
With the addition of these new 21 Cardinals-designate in August, the College of Cardinals will grow to 229 Cardinals, of whom 131 will be electors.
The soon-to-be Cardinal spoke with Vatican News about how he received the news, his areas of focus in his new role and how his past experiences and responsibilities have shaped him in his pastoral ministry.
Called to serve
At the time of the Pope’s announcement, Bishop Okpaleke was about his episcopal ministry in the diocese of Ekwulobia. He was in one of the parishes, administering the sacrament of confirmation to 138 candidates, oblivious to what had happened. After the Mass, he was greeted by his secretary bearing the news of his new appointment. Following that, the news continued to filter in from different quarters.
He explains that his first reaction was to consider his own unworthiness and shortcomings, but “by the grace of God, if it has pleased the Holy Spirit working in the Church,” he will take solace in the words of Scripture in Romans 8: 28: “We know that all things work for good for those who love God.”
With this new position, Bishop Okpaleke becomes the fourth Cardinal from Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa, which faces its own challenges on different levels. The Church in the country has been vocal on several issues and has been at the forefront of social justice matters.
