Only Bishop Okpaleke, rejected by Ahiara Diocese, to participate in electing new Pope from Nigeria

Nigeria’s sole representative in the papal conclave to elect a new pope is Bishop Peter Okpaleke, the Catholic Bishop of Ekwulobia, Anambra State.

Bishop Okpaleke was appointed a cardinal by the late Pope Francis in 2022 and will participate in the election of the new leader of the Catholic Church.

Bishop Okpaleke’s appointment as Bishop of Ahiara was met with resistance, and he was eventually installed as Bishop of Ekwulobia.

Despite the controversy, he has continued to serve the church and has held various positions, including Chairman of the Canon Law Commission of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).

The papal conclave will bring together 137 cardinal electors, including Bishop Okpaleke, to choose the new pope.

Three other Nigerian cardinals, Francis Arinze (92), John Onaiyekan (81), and Anthony Olubunmi Okogie (88), will attend the College of Cardinals meeting but will not have a vote due to their age.

As the conclave approaches, Bishop Okpaleke’s role in shaping the future of the Catholic Church will be significant.

Born on March 1, 1963, in Amesi, Anambra State, Bishop Okpaleke has had a distinguished career in the church, serving in various capacities, including as a priest, bishop, and cardinal.

Bishop Okpaleke’s educational background includes studying philosophy and theology at the Bigard Memorial Major Seminary in Ikot-Ekpene and Enugu.

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

With the conclave scheduled to take place in late April or early May, Bishop Okpaleke’s role in shaping the future of the Catholic Church is set to be significant.