Pope Francis: Okpaleke only Nigerian Cardinal eligible to participate in the election of new Pope

The Catholic Broadcast Commission of Nigeria, CBCN, has revealed that only one cardinal from Nigeria is eligible to participate in the election of a new Pope.

According to a statement posted on the CBCN Facebook page, His Eminence, Cardinal Peter Ebere Okpaleke, 62, the Bishop of Ekwulobia, is the only Nigerian Catholic cardinal, out of four currently eligible to participate (vote) in a papal conclave.

CBCN cited their age as the reason for the ineligibility of the remaining three.

The statement read: 

“His Eminence, Peter Cardinal Okpaleke (62) is the only Nigerian Catholic cardinal out of four cardinals currently eligible to participate( vote) in a papal conclave, being under 80 years of age—both to vote for a new pope and to be voted for as Pope.

“Other Nigerian cardinals who cannot vote:
Francis Cardinal Arinze – 92
Anthony; Cardinal Okogie – 88
Cardinal John Onaiyekan – 81

“Why can’t cardinals over the age of 80 vote in a conclave? The Church excuses them from voting out of concern for the Cardinals themselves.

Selecting the Supreme Pontiff can be a great burden of responsibility, and especially so when one is advanced in age. These Cardinals instead take the role of supporting the electors by helping to lead the people of God in prayer during the election.

“The reason for this provision is the desire not to add to the weight of such venerable age the further burden of responsibility for choosing the one who will have to lead Christ’s flock in ways adapted to the needs of the times.

“This does not, however, mean that the cardinals over eighty years of age cannot take part in the preparatory meetings of the Conclave, in conformity with the norms set forth below.

“During the vacancy of the Apostolic See, and especially during the election of the Supreme Pontiff, they in particular should lead the People of God assembled in the Patriarchal Basilicas of Rome and in other churches in the dioceses throughout the world, supporting the work of the electors with fervent prayers and supplications to the Holy Spirit and imploring for them the light needed to make their choice before God alone and with concern only for the ‘salvation of souls, which in the Church must always be the Supreme Law’.”

Pope Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on February 14 for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia.

He spent 38 days there, the longest hospital stay of his 12-year papacy.

However, he emerged on Easter Sunday, a day before his death, to bless thousands of people in St Peter’s Square.

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