EKWULOBIA – Bishop Peter Ebere Okpaleke of the Ekwulobia diocese has been named a cardinal by His Holiness, Pope Francis.
This has increased the number of Cardinals in Nigeria to four namely cardinals Arinze, Okogie, Onaiyekan and now Okpaleke.
Out of these, only Cardinals Onaiyekan and Okpaleke can vote at conclave, being that they are under the age of 80.
It may seem as though Pope Francis passed over archbishops of major cities in Nigeria to appoint Bishop Okpaleke in a far-flung diocese where the Church is still growing.
Recall that Bishop Okpalaeke was appointed Bishop of Ahiara in 2012 and consecrated in 2013, but after the local clergy and laity insisted on an Mbaise bishop instead he was installed as bishop of Ekwulobia in 2020.
This appointment will seem surprising to most people in the church in Nigeria who were expecting some other archbishops to become cardinals.
We rejoice with His Eminence, Peter Cardinal Ebere Okpalaeke as he receives the title of CARDINAL!
