“It is a privilege and a responsibility I carry with humility.”
THE NATION
Cardinal Peter Ebere Okpaleke, the Bishop of Ekwulobia in Anambra State, is the only Nigerian eligible to vote in the next papal conclave following the death of Pope Francis.
Appointed a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2022, Okpaleke joins the elite College of Cardinals—clergy under 80 years of age who will elect the next Pope. He was ordained in 1992 and previously appointed Bishop of Ahiara Diocese in 2012, though protests delayed his installation.
Despite setbacks, he remained committed to the Church and was later installed as Bishop of Ekwulobia in 2020. His elevation to cardinal was widely celebrated in Nigeria as a recognition of his resilience and spiritual dedication.