The Bishop of Ahiara Catholic Diocese in Imo State, Peter Okpaleke has resigned. His appointment by the Vatican had created crisis, and was opposed by the laity and a section of the clergy.
Opkaleke, who hails from Anambra State, was consecrated in 2012, after the death of Dr. Victor Chikwe. A letter said to have emanated from the pontiff on February 19, accepted Okpaleke’s resignation.
Pope Francis has since accepted his resignation and appointed the Bishop of Umuahia, Dr. Luciuos Ugorji, as the Apostolic Administrator of the diocese.
Okpaleke’s letter of resignation reads: “I am convinced that my remaining the Bishop of Ahiara Diocese is no longer beneficial to the Church.
“I do not think that my apostolate in a diocese, where some of the priests and lay faithful are ill-disposed to have me in their midst would be effective. Exercising the ministry in a diocese where priests who are supposed to be my immediate and closest collaborators, brothers, friends and sons are at war with one another, with the laity and with me as their chief shepherd would be disastrous and threat to salvation of souls – including my own soul.
“Your Holiness, for the spiritual good of the diocese, I , Most Rev. Peter Ebere Okpaleke hereby freely and humbly present my resignation to you and pray that you relieve me of the responsibility of being the bishop of Ahiara diocese of Nigeria.”
At the peak of the crisis, Pope Benedfict XVI had in June last year, given the faithful 30 days to accept the cleric or face suspension. But the alleged rejection continued. Pope’s letter had warned: “whoever was opposed to Bishop Okpaleke taking possession of the diocese wants to destroy the church.”
He later directed about 200 priests of the diocese to write letters of apology to the pontiff. He warned: “Whoever does not do this will be ipso facto suspended a divinis and will lose his current office.’’
“We urged every priest to reflect on the grave damage inflicted on the Church of Christ and expressed hope that in the future they will never again repeat such unreasonable actions opposing a Bishop legitimately appointed by the Supreme Pontiff.”
Pope Accepts Resignation
The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples released a press statement on Monday stating: "The Holy Father, after having accepted the resignation of His Excellency Peter Ebere Okpaleke, has relieved him of the pastoral care of the Diocese of Ahiara, and at the same time has thanked him for his love for the Church.
“For the time being, the Holy Father does not intend to appoint a new Bishop in Ahiara, but he reserves to himself the right to continue to have a special and particular concern for this Diocese, assigning a new Apostolic Administrator... in the person of His Excellency, the Most Rev. Lucius lwejuru Ugorji, Bishop of Umuahia,” the Vatican statement read.
