Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of a Nigerian bishop who was long opposed by the priests in his diocese.
Bishop Peter Okpaleke had been appointed to the Ahiara diocese in southern Nigeria in 2012, but local clergy objected to a priest from outside the region and he was forced to reside outside the diocese.
In a pastoral letter putting forward his resignation on February 14, Bishop Okpaleke referred to “violent reactions and resistance” to his appointment. The Vatican confirmed the Pope’s acceptance of Bishop Okpaleke’s resignation in a statement released on February 19.
In June 2017, Pope Francis warned dissenting clergy that a refusal to accept Bishop Okpaleke as bishop would lead to their dismissal. The Pontiff gave each priest 30 days to pledge their obedience.
According to a statement from the Vatican, the Pope received 200 letters from individual priests in the region “in which they manifested to him obedience and fidelity.
The statement continued: “Some priests, however, pointed out their psychological difficulty in collaborating with the bishop after years of conflict.
“Taking into account their repentance, the Holy Father decided not to proceed with the canonical sanctions and instructed the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples to respond to each of them.”
The Vatican asked the priests 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.”
Bishop Okpaleke wrote in his resignation letter of his “love and prayer towards the faithful of Ahiara diocese”.
He said: “I invite any dissenting priests to re-examine their initial motivations for becoming priests.”
Although a new bishop has not been appointed, the Congregation has announced a new apostolic administrator, Bishop Lucius Ugorji of Umuahia.
Zuma resignation ‘long overdue’
South African bishops have welcomed President Jacob Zuma’s resignation, calling it “long overdue”.
Mr Zuma, who was facing multiple charges of corruption, stepped down under pressure from his own party. The South African Bishops’ Conference said: “The fact that Mr Zuma has been allowed to hold on to the [presidency] has done immense harm to our country’s reputation.”
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