Felicitations and congratulatory messages have been pouring in for Bishop Peter Okpaleke of Ekwulobia Diocese, Anambra State over his appointment as a Cardinal in the Catholic Church by Pope Francis and one of those are from the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari who recently congratulated him on his appointment.
In a statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, Buhari thanked Pope Francis for considering the bishop worthy of such an appointment.
Africa Today News, New York reports that Bishop Okpaleke, by the appointment, became the fifth Cardinal from Nigeria.
Others before him include Francis Arinze, Dominic Ekandem, Anthony Okogie and John Onaiyekan.
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He is among the 21 new Cardinals Pope Francis announced on 29 May, 2022.
Bishop Okpaleke was one of the two nominees from the African continent.
The president congratulated the Nigerian Christian Community on the appointment, describing the Cardinal-designate as ably qualified, and that having him in that position will benefit the country.
The President also commended the commitment of the Catholic Church to unity, peace and progress of the Nigerian state.
Pope Francis had earlier reported that he will be creating 21 new Catholic cardinals in August 16 of whom are under 80 years old and eligible to vote for his successor.
The Pope, who made the surprise announcement at the end of his appearance at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican City, said the cardinals would assume the position on August 27.
The appointments came as the Argentine pontiff gradually shapes a less European college of cardinals.
The newcomers include a Nigerian Bishop, Most Revd. Peter Okpaleke, who was appointed to Ahiara Diocese of Imo State by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012.
However, a group of the Diocese’s priests and laity rejected him because he came from a different ethnic group, which led to a seven-year standoff that prevented him from being installed.
Okpaleke was eventually installed April 29, 2019, as the bishop of the new Ekwulobia diocese in Anambra State after renouncing his appointment to Ahiara in 2018, in an effort to resolve the situation.
The 20 other new “princes” of the church, who will be elevated at a special ceremony known as a consistory, come from countries including France, Brazil, India, Philippines, Mongolia, Paraguay, Timor Oriental and Italy.
Those under age 80 will be able to take part in the next secret conclave to elect the head of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics, who is chosen from among the cardinals.