393:, which would prohibit a priest or deacon from administering the sacraments, save for a priest hearing the confession of a person in danger of death, and would be removed from their posts. He had considered suppressing the diocese, but decided against that. On 8 July, it was reported that while the letter of apology was sent, Okpalaeke's appointment was still rejected by the local priests who insisted that the Holy See was enforcing racial discrimination in the country by hiring outsider priests to become bishops.
261:
57:
415:
to
Nigeria. He wrote: "I do not think that my apostolate in a diocese where a group of priests and lay faithful are very ill disposed to have me in their midst would be effective." On 19 February 2018, Pope Francis accepted Okpaleke's resignation and on 5 March 2020 he appointed Okpaleke bishop of
388:
On 8 June 2017, Pope
Francis, after receiving a delegation from the Diocese, gave all the diocesan priests and deacons 30 days to personally write to the Vatican pledging obedience to the pope and accepting Okpaleke. Those who failed to write would be suspended
1007:
1012:
501:
853:
812:
1002:
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404:
374:
ethnic group or chosen from among the local priests. Okpaleke was consecrated a bishop on 21 May 2013, but he was not installed in Ahiara.
103:
997:
735:
609:
396:
On 22 July 2017, Pope
Francis agreed to respond through emissaries to the individual priests protesting Okpaleke's appointment.
904:
786:
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260:
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485:
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687:"Holy See Press Office Communiqué: Audience with delegation from the diocese of Ahiara, Nigeria, 08.06.2017"
496:, but he remains as interim apostolic administrator; he and his successor in Ahiara will be assisted by
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827:"Pope Francis appoints ex-Ahiara bishop, Okpaleke, head new Ekwulobia diocese"
991:
854:"Nigerian bishop rejected by Ahiara diocese installed as Bishop of Ekwulobia"
813:"Nigerian bishop rejected by Ahiara diocese installed as Bishop of Ekwulobia"
434:
118:
105:
484:(19 February 2018 - 6 March 2023), appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of the
493:
378:
303:
229:
188:
787:"Pope Francis accepts the resignation of Nigerian Bishop - Vatican News"
198:
1008:
Roman
Catholic dioceses and prelatures established in the 20th century
761:"Nigeria: Pope Accepts Resignation of Bishop, Appoints Administrator"
430:
323:
269:
181:
77:
399:
On 14 February 2018, Okpaleke submitted his resignation to
Cardinal
362:
The clergy and laity of the diocese refused to accept the bishop
307:
62:
633:"Three ironies about a dramatic show of papal muscle in Nigeria"
282:
438:
371:
319:
315:
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73:
736:"Pope begins answering priests from troubled Nigerian diocese"
350:
18 November 1987: Established as
Diocese of Ahiara from the
610:"Pope tells Nigerian priests accept bishop or be suspended"
542:
for 'Sit vacant and at the behest of the Holy See')
936:(Press release). Holy See Press Office. 19 February 2018
420:. Okpaleke was installed in that position on 29 April.
357:
689:(Press release). Holy See Press Office. 8 June 2017
385:, Archbishop of Abuja, as Apostolic Administrator.
1013:Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Owerri
989:
405:Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples
710:"Partial Victory For Pope In Ahiara Diocese"
707:
1003:Christian organizations established in 1987
934:"Resignations and Appointments, 19.02.2018"
564:"Resignations and Appointments, 06.03.2022"
533:
30:
851:
733:
259:
973:Official website of the Diocese of Ahiara
630:
366:had appointed in 2012 as their ordinary,
879:"Bishop Victor Adibe Chikwe Dies at 72"
990:
928:
926:
883:Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria
708:Mgbeahuruike, Emmanuel (8 July 2017).
655:
653:
607:
535:Sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis
459:(18 November 1987 – 16 September 2010)
819:
589:. Vol. LXXX. 1988. pp. 6–7
486:Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri
465:(7 December 2012 – 19 February 2018)
433:is Mater Ecclesiae Cathedral in the
923:
650:
631:Allen Jr., John L. (11 June 2017).
423:
13:
998:Roman Catholic dioceses in Nigeria
239:Most Rev. Simeon Okezuo Nwobi, CMF
14:
1024:
966:
734:San Martin, Inéz (22 July 2017).
358:Appointment controversy 2012-2018
144:425 km (164 sq mi)
478:(3 July 2013 – 19 February 2018)
55:
956:"Resignations and Appointments"
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897:
871:
852:San Martín, Inés (5 May 2020).
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907:(Press release) (in Italian).
905:"Rinunce e Nomine, 07.12.2012"
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663:(Press release) (in Italian).
661:"Rinunce e Nomine, 03.07.2013"
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1:
608:Wooden, Cindy (9 June 2017).
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370:, because he was not of the
306:ecclesiastical territory or
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16:Catholic diocese in Nigeria
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978:GCatholic.org Information
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470:Apostolic Administrators
612:. Catholic News Service
409:Antonio Guido Filipazzi
332:ecclesiastical province
244:Apostolic Administrator
85:Ecclesiastical province
583:Acta Apostolicae Sedis
534:
299:
272:which is shown in red.
31:
909:Holy See Press Office
665:Holy See Press Office
568:Holy See Press Office
482:Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji
339:Archdiocese of Owerri
248:Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji
119:5.527833°N 7.273306°E
714:Metro Star (Nigeria)
418:Diocese of Ekwulobia
368:Peter Ebere Okpaleke
160:401,506 (78.6%)
502:Simeon Okezuo Nwobi
457:Victor Adibe Chikwe
381:appointed Cardinal
326:, Nigeria. It is a
115: /
983:Catholic Hierarchy
793:. 19 February 2018
791:www.vaticannews.va
767:. 19 February 2018
416:the newly created
221:Current leadership
124:5.527833; 7.273306
32:Dioecesis Ahiarana
911:. 7 December 2012
566:(Press release).
407:, and Archbishop
403:, Prefect of the
364:Pope Benedict XVI
352:Diocese of Owerri
328:suffragan diocese
318:in the region of
292:Diocese of Ahiara
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283:AhiaraDiocese.org
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885:. 20 August 2011
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498:Auxiliary Bishop
424:Special churches
413:Apostolic Nuncio
377:On 3 July 2013,
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153:- Catholics
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570:. 6 March 2022.
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833:. 5 March 2020
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815:. 5 May 2020.
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667:. 3 July 2013
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614:. Retrieved
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591:. Retrieved
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494:Pope Francis
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379:Pope Francis
376:
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336:metropolitan
304:Latin Church
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189:Latin Church
180:
170:Denomination
156:(as of 2004)
151:- Total
28:
18:
314:located in
205:Established
165:Information
122: /
110:7°16′23.9″E
107:5°31′40.2″N
97:Coordinates
992:Categories
550:References
446:Leadership
300:Ahiaran(a)
199:Roman Rite
149:Population
136:Statistics
431:cathedral
391:a divinis
324:Imo State
270:Imo State
213:Cathedral
182:Sui iuris
78:Imo State
70:Territory
509:See also
504:, C.M.F.
45:Location
797:6 March
745:6 March
719:6 March
642:6 March
616:6 March
500:-elect
451:Bishops
345:History
334:of the
330:in the
310:of the
308:diocese
302:) is a
277:Website
230:Francis
158:510,623
63:Nigeria
50:Country
771:8 June
439:Ahiara
372:Mbaise
320:Mbaise
316:Ahiara
268:is in
266:Ahiara
236:Bishop
185:church
131:Ahiara
90:Owerri
74:Mbaise
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940:8 May
915:8 May
889:8 May
863:6 May
837:5 May
765:Zenit
693:8 May
671:8 May
593:8 May
587:(PDF)
540:Latin
521:Notes
296:Latin
942:2020
917:2020
891:2020
865:2020
858:Crux
839:2020
799:2022
773:2019
747:2022
740:Crux
721:2022
695:2020
673:2020
644:2022
637:Crux
618:2022
595:2020
429:The
290:The
226:Pope
195:Rite
141:Area
492:by
488:in
437:of
322:in
254:Map
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