Francis met June 8 at the Vatican with a delegation from the Ahiara diocese, where priests have been refusing to accept the 2012 appointment by the then pontiff, Benedict XVI, of the local bishop.
Though Okpaleke is an Igbo from Anambra State, the Catholic leaders in Ahiara rejected him because he is not an Igbo man from Mbaise.
Today, the pope threatened to suspend the priests from the ministry if they didn’t pledge in a letter, by July 9, “total obedience” to Francis and accept Bishop Peter Okpaleke’s appointment. .
Francis told the visiting delegation he was “very sad” about the priests’ refusal to obey and ruled out tribal loyalties as explaining the refusal. His remarks to the visiting delegation indicated how dangerous he viewed any rebellion against papal authority. .
Those priests opposing Okpaleke’s taking up of his office “want to destroy the church, which is not permitted,” Francis said in his address to the delegation. He demanded that each priest in the diocese write to him asking forgiveness and “clearly manifest total obedience to the pope.” .
They must also accept the bishop chosen by Rome. If, within a month, each priest doesn’t do so, he will be “ispo facto suspended,” such as from the celebration of the sacraments, and “will lose his current office,” Francis warned. .
He added that he had even considered the extraordinary remedy of suppressing the entire diocese but didn’t, so as not to hurt rank-and-file faithful.
Catholic Churches in Nigeria should stop sending money to Rome because I can’t see what they with in Nigeria
May God almighty have mercy on u
They should send the money to your Pastor Abi u must b a criminal
You must be a wanted criminal
These priests are trying to destroy the church. They just have to make a u-turn and renew their oath of allegiance to His Holiness.
Imagine priest being tribalistic,that is unacceptable in the Catholic church, and it is a total disobedience to the Pope, this Igbo people should be careful oo,before the wrath of God will descend on them,
That is one u talk about but u never one day speak on the behaif of those Biafrans that Nigeria government killed.
I appreciate most sincere the deep feelings of His Holliness and I say a big thank you for wading into the injurious controversy and will also advise that any priest who refuses to comply should immediately have his priestly faculty withdrawn.
Am only appealing, but what did papacy say about BIAFRA and Nigeria issue
We appreciated the most high his holiness in taken this step, enough is enough
This is a big shame on us. Politics in my church? This is exactly how Biafran government would be. I feel so ashamed being an igbo right now. God have mercy on you people.
i wonder what those priests are turning the church into?
Catholic Church is a universal church and your bishop can come from anywhere not necessarily from your community.
I can’t really understand the Igbos, You are clamouring for Biafra and can’t really stand each other . I don’t understand how you guys can live together when you have so much division within yourselves. You can really need to check yourselves possibly you might be the problem not other people as you claim .
I think the Holy father take the right decision. Anyone that is not satisfied can leave the church . Enough is enough.