Rejected by local clergy, Pope Francis names him Bishop of newly created Diocese
The Holy Father, Pope Francis on Thursday,
March 5, 2020, named Bishop Peter Ebere Okpaleke as the first
Ordinary bishop for the newly created Diocese of Ekwulobia, in south
eastern Nigeria.
The prelate was earlier appointed to shepherd the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara, Nigeria but the local clergy and faithful objected to his appointment and prevented him from entering the cathedral in order to take possession of the diocese.
The prelate was earlier appointed to shepherd the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara, Nigeria but the local clergy and faithful objected to his appointment and prevented him from entering the cathedral in order to take possession of the diocese.
A petition object to the fact that Okpalaeke
was not of the area's Mbaise origin was previously sent to Pope Benedict
XVI after the former Pope appointed Okpalaeke Bishop.
The prelate later tendered in his
resignation with Pope Francis’ acceptance on 19 February 2018
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