Peter Okpaleke, the Catholic bishop of Ekwulobia in Anambra state, has been named a cardinal by Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church worldwide.
According to Anaedoonline.ng, Okpaleke is one of 21 new cardinals from throughout the globe named by Pope Francis on Sunday, May 29th, 2022.
He will become Nigeria’s fourth cardinal. John Onaiyekan, Anthony Okogie, and Francis Arinze are among those who have gone before him.
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At the end of the Regina Coeli on Sunday, Pope Francis announced the new appointments, as well as a Consistory for the formation of new cardinals on August 27, 2022.
“On Saturday, 27 August, I will hold a Consistory for the creation of new Cardinals. Let us pray that they will help me in my mission as Bishop of Rome for the good of all God’s people,” the Pope was quoted to have said.
The College of Cardinals currently consists of 208 Cardinals, of whom 117 are electors and 91 non-electors. But with the new additions, the number will grow to 229 Cardinals, of whom 131 will be electors.
Of the 21 new appointed cardinals, eight are from Europe, six from Asia, two from Africa, one from North America, and four from Central and Latin America.
All You Need To Know About Bishop Peter Okpaleke
Peter Ebere Okpaleke (59 years old) was born in Amesi, Aguata local government area of Anambra State, Nigeria, on March 1, 1963.
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From 1983 until 1992, he attended local schools before enrolling in the Bigard Memorial Major Seminary in Ikot-Ekpene and Enugu, where he studied philosophy and theology.
He also went to the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome to study canon law.
On August 22, 1990, he was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Awka.
Pope Benedict XVI named Okpaleke Bishop of Ahiara, Nigeria, on December 7, 2012.
On May 21, 2013, Okpaleke was consecrated as a bishop, although his appointment was met with resistance because he was not of the Mbaise ethnic group. The Pope, on the other hand, was adamant.
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On February 19, 2018, Pope Francis accepted Okpaleke’s resignation as Bishop of Ahiara, however on March 5, 2020, Pope Francis named Okpaleke Bishop of the newly formed Diocese of Ekwulobia in Anambra State.
He was installed on April 29, 2020, and remained in that post until Pope Francis recently appointed him as a cardinal.
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