Pope adorns Bishop of CADEK with red hat

• This is the Lord’s doing and it’s marvellous in our eyes (Ps. 118:23)

The Bishop of CADEK, Peter Cardinal Okpaleke received his red hat at the Consistory in Vatican City, Rome on August 27, 2022 making him one of the Princes of the Universal Church.

Recall that on Sunday, May 29, 2022, Pope Francis announced his elevation to the cardinalate with twenty others.

Peter with his twin brother Paul of blessed memory, were born on March 1, 1963 to Reuben Ezeuko Okpaleke and Bridget Ekejimma Okpaleke of blessed memory, of Umuokpalawuzie kindred of Umuocha village, Amesi, Aguata L.G.A of Anambra State.

Baptized by Fr. J. Sheehan on April 1,1963, Peter spent his early childhood at Uga where he was raised by his maternal grandmother, Evelyne Ibekwe, of blessed memory.

The priestly journey of a young Altar Server turned a Cardinal began in 1972 when he was providentially called to serve at Mass without having been an Altar Server. After that encounter, Peter later officially joined Altar Servers. In 1982, the young Peter joined St. JohnBosco Seminary, Isuaniocha. His priestly journey culminated in his ordination on August 22, 1992, by Late Bishop Simon Akwali Okafor, the then Auxiliary Bishop of Awka Diocese.

Fr. Peter exercised pastoral ministry in various capacities in the diocese of Awka – Assistant Secretary to the Bishop, Financial Administrator, Chancellor, Diocesan Master of Ceremonies, Chaplain of St. Joseph the worker Chaplaincy, Awka, Parish Priest of Ss. John & Paul, Umubele, Awka and so on.

Fr. Peter Ebere Okpaleke was appointed the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI on December 7, 2012. The Episcopal ordination took place on May 21, 2013, at Seat of Wisdom Seminary, Owerri. Because of the resistance he met there, he did not take canonical possession of the See and did not exercise episcopal ministry there.

On February 19, 2018, the Holy Father, Pope Francis accepted Bishop Peter’s resignation as the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara and thanked him for his “Holy Patience.”

Two years later, on March 5, 2020, the Holy Father announced the creation of the Catholic Diocese of Ekwulobia (CADEK) and the appointment of Bishop Peter Ebere Okpaleke as her first Bishop.

Before the appointment of His Eminence, Peter Ebere Cardinal Okpaleke, Nigeria has had four Cardinals namely: Dominic Cardinal Ekandem of blessed memory, Francis Cardinal Arinze, Anthony Cardinal Okojie, and John Cardinal Onaiyekan.

Really, God works in mysterious ways!

Congratulations your Eminence.