MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS, POPE FRANCIS TO THE DIOCESE OF AHIARA
Yesterday the Holy Father received a Delegation of the Diocese of Ahiara, Nigeria, in a private audience, which has been living a painful situation for years.
The Members of the Delegation of the Diocese of Ahiara, accompanied by His Eminence Cardinal J. O. Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja and Apostolic Administrator of Ahiara, His Excellency A. J. Obinna, Metropolitan Archbishop of Owerri, I. A. Kaigama, Archbishop of Jos and President of the Episcopal Conference of Nigeria, His Excellency P. E. Okpaleke, Bishop of Ahiara, the Reverend Fathers C. O. Ebii, J. N. Uwalaka and U. I. Olekamma, as well as Sister B. O. Ezeyi, on behalf of the Religious, and H.R.H. S. P. Iwu, Traditional Head, on behalf of the lay faithful. Also present at the meeting were the Cardinal Secretary of State and the Prefect and Superiors of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
I cordially greet the delegation and thank you for coming from Nigeria in a spirit of pilgrimage.
For me, this meeting is a consolation because I am deeply saddened by the events of the Church in Ahiara.
In fact, the Church (and excuse the wording) is like a widow for having prevented the Bishop from coming to the Diocese. Many times I have thought about the parable of the murderous tenants, of which the Gospel speaks (cf. Mt 21:33-44), that want to grasp the inheritance. In this current situation the Diocese of Ahiara is without the bridegroom, has lost her fertility and cannot bear fruit. Whoever was opposed to Bishop Okpaleke taking possession of the Diocese wants to destroy the Church. This is forbidden; perhaps he does not realize it, but the Church is suffering as well as the People of God within her. The Pope cannot be indifferent.
I know very well the events that have been dragging on for years and I am thankful for the attitude of great patience of the Bishop, indeed the holy patience demonstrated by him. I listened and reflected much, even about the possibility of suppressing the Diocese, but then I thought that the Church is a mother and cannot abandon her many children. I feel great sorrow for those priests who are being manipulated even from abroad and from outside the Diocese.
I think that, in this case, we are not dealing with tribalism, but with an attempted taking of the vineyard of the Lord. The Church is a mother and whoever offends her commits a mortal sin, it’s very serious. However, I decided not to suppress the Diocese. Instead, I wish to give some indications that are to be communicated to all: first of all it must be said that the Pope is deeply saddened. Therefore, I ask that every priest or ecclesiastic incardinated in the Diocese of Ahiara, whether he resides there or works elsewhere, even abroad, write a letter addressed to me in which he asks for forgiveness; all must write individually and personally. We all must share this common sorrow. In the letter
1. one must clearly manifest total obedience to the Pope, and
2. whoever writes must be willing to accept the Bishop whom the Pope sends and has appointed.
3. The letter must be sent within 30 days, from today to July 9th, 2017. Whoever does not do this will be ipso facto suspended a divinis and will lose his current office.
This seems very hard, but why must the Pope do this? Because the people of God are scandalized. Jesus reminds us that whoever causes scandal must suffer the consequences. Maybe someone has been manipulated without having full awareness of the wound inflicted upon the ecclesial communion.
To you brothers and sisters, I would like to express my sincere thanks for your presence; and also to Cardinal Onaiyekan for his patience and to Bishop Okpaleke, whose patience and humility I admire. Thank you all.
Then Cardinal Onaiyekan thanked the Holy Father.
The Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, asked the Holy Father, who accepted, that at the conclusion of this sequence of events, the Diocese of Ahiara, with its Bishop, make a pilgrimage to Rome to meet with the Holy Father.
The Audience ended with a prayer to Mary and the blessing of the Holy Father.
Vatican City, 8 June 2017
Credit: Agenzia Fides
A good development for the church. May God bless his holiness.
This is motherly corrective, chiocemaking yet its an advantagous stance to know those who truly are Christlike nd priestly. The mother can’t be wrong I supposed!!!?
We cannot be Catholic if we differ in our opinion with the leadership of Rome under the guidance of the Holy Spirit
I appreciate the wisdom of the Pope to have taken such strong stand to end the incessant embarrassing situation in Ahira Diocese. We pray for them to be delivered from the evil root growing in their midst and return to true communion with God and His Church. God bless the church.
.May d good Lord grant them the grace to welcome d will of God in there life.
when it becomes necessary. the rod need to be used, else the child spoils. This Chastisement from the Holy father is apt. It must not be seen as vindictive, it is a mother’s correction in love. It is coming at a no better time than now.
Let us not forget we pledged obedience to the hierarchy and mother church,priests and lay faithful alike. Obedience is better than sacrifice.
What then is the oath of obedience taken by the priests of Ahiara diocese?
It’s a grievance taken too far to prevent a Bishop from his diocese. Scandalous and a disgrace to the church in Nigeria.
Catholic Church is ONE, UNIVERSAL.
Viva papa.
This will not work. I don’t think the pope understands the real issues at hand.
Since you understand more than the Pope and hm the Ahiara delegation, give us a model that’ll work.
For your information, no one understands the issue here more than the pope. Do u think he just woke up and started talking? Anyway if you say ‘that will not work’ it’s your own opinion and you are entitled to it but remember that Christ prayed for this Church ‘that they may be one’. The spirit of God is not a spirit of division. I will urge you to pray for them to reconcile with the church rather than say ‘it will not work’.
Thank you for this wonderful statement.
The Church is indeed a mother (LG. n. 6). May God continue to bless and strengthen our Pope Francis.
May the good lord be with Ahiara Diocese and the catholic church at large,Holy Queen of the church pray for us.
Fatherly ideology. The Pope presenting the church in Ahiara to the blessed Virgin Mary is a wonderful thought, so amazing. The will continue to use his Holiness.
The delegation is is God used people.
Arch. I. A Kaigama you are a leader.
Thank u
Thank You Holy Father. You are indeed a father u