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Nigerian Bishop, Peter Okpaleke Appointed A Cardinal By Pope Francis (See His Biography)

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Nigerian Bishop, Peter Okpaleke Appointed A Cardinal By Pope Francis (See His Biography)

The Catholic bishop of Ekwulobia, Anambra state, Peter Okpaleke has been appointed as a cardinal by the head of the Catholic Church worldwide, Pope Francis.

Naija News reports Okpaleke is one of the 21 new cardinals from around the world announced by the Pope on Sunday, 29th May, 2022.

He becomes the fourth cardinal from Nigeria. Others before him are John Onaiyekan, Anthony Okogie and Francis Arinze.

Pope Francis announced the new appointments at the conclusion of the Regina Coeli on Sunday, adding that he would hold a Consistory for the creation 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.

Biography/Profile of Bishop Peter Okpaleke

Peter Ebere Okpaleke was born on 1 March 1963 (59 years old) in Amesi, Aguata local government area of Anambra State, Nigeria.

He attended local schools and in 1983 entered the Bigard Memorial Major Seminary in Ikot-Ekpene and Enugu, where he studied philosophy and theology from 1983 to 1992.

He also studied canon law in Rome at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross.

He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Awka on 22 August 1990.

On 7 December 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Okpaleke Bishop of Ahiara, Nigeria.

Okpaleke was consecrated as a bishop on 21 May 2013 but there was opposition to his appointment on the basis that he was not of the area’s Mbaise ethnic origin. The Pope however insisted.

On 19 February 2018, Pope Francis accepted Okpaleke’s resignation as Bishop of Ahiara but on 5 March 2020, Pope Francis appointed Okpaleke the Bishop of the Diocese of Ekwulobia which is a newly created diocese in Anambra State.

He was installed there on 29 April 2020 and served in that position until his recent appointment as a cardinal by Pope Francis.