Pope Francis has nominated a Nigerian, Peter Okpaleke, Catholic bishop of Ekwulobia, Anambra state, as one of 21 new cardinals of the Catholic church.
Peter Ebere Okpaleke born 1 March 1963 is a Nigerian prelate of the Catholic Church who has been Bishop of Ekwulobia since 29 April 2020.
Sixteen of those who will receive the prestigious red cardinal’s hat from Francis in a consistory ceremony at the Vatican on Aug. 27 are younger than 80 and thus would be eligible to vote for his successor if a conclave — in which pontiffs are secretly elected — were to be held.
Francis read out the names of his choices after delivering traditional Sunday remarks from an open window of the Apostolic Palace to the public in St. Peter’s Square.
