It was finally time. The Announcer went, “…and now coming forward, Cardinal Peter Okpalaeke of Ekwulobia Diocese…”. That echo beckoned the moment His Eminence, Peter Cardinal Okpalaeke was finally sworn in by His Holiness, Pope Francis at his eighth consistory at Saint Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Rome. The moment we all had been waiting for. The moment we had all dreamed of.
The few minutes the Pope wore Cardinal Okpalaeke the fidelity ring and the red biretta symbolizing his renewed vows of fidelity to the church and ascendancy into the elite class of “princes of the mother church” was not only spiritual, soul searching and historical, but, emotional. Emotional not because he is the first from Nigeria or in Anambra State to attain the feat. In fact, he is the fifth in Nigeria after the likes of Dominic Cardinal Ekandem, Francis Cardinal Arinze, Anthony Cardinal Okojie and his colleague in the papal conclave, John Cardinal Onaiyekan. No, but because of the memories his rise bring to mind.
The unassuming young Okpalaeke and his twin, Paul of blessed memory were born on March 1, 1963 to Reuben Ezeuko Okpalaeke and Bridget Ekejimma Okpalaeke, both of blessed memory, of Umuokpalawuzie kindred of Umuocha Village, Amesi in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State. He was ordained a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Awka by Most Reverend Simon Okafor on 22nd August, 1992 after his formation at Bigard Memorial Major Seminary, Enugu. A graduate of Canon Law of Pontificia Universitas Sanctae Crucis, Piazza di Sant’Apollinare, Rome, Italy, Cardinal Okpalaeke served in different pastoral and administrative positions including at one time, finance administrator and the other, Chancellor of the Awka Catholic Diocese.
However, the beauty of the story of this man of God started when it seemed that what could have been his glory days turned sour. In a very spectacular event, Father Okpalaeke was appointed Bishop of Ahiara Mbaise Diocese on December 7, 2012 but was roundly rejected by both the clergy and laity of the diocese. Petitions were written rejecting him on no other account except that he was not an indigenous priest of the Diocese. It was a strange and sad commentary for the church and for observers. His consecration as Bishop on May 21, 2013 was held outside the diocese. Various interventions by Pope Benedict XVI, his successor, Pope Francis and stakeholders of the church to resolve the matter was resisted until 2018, when Bishop Okpalaeke resigned as Bishop of Ahiara Diocese.
His story didn’t get worse, it only got better.
Like the gold that shines after passing through the furnace’s heat, he emerged even more victorious. On March 5, 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic ravaged the world, light came from Rome. A bearer of goodnews came calling. Pope Francis appointed Dr Okpalaeke Bishop of the newly created Diocese of Ekwulobia. Two years later, specifically on 29th May, 2022 as Nigerians celebrated Democracy Day, another great news came. This time, the creation of His Lordship, Most Reverend Peter Ebere Okpalaeke, the Catholic Bishop of Ekwulobia, as Cardinal. He was appointed alongside ninteen other Bishops from different parts of the world.
As Pope Francis swore in Peter Cardinal Okpalaeke last Saturday, August 27, 2022, which coincided with the celebration of the thirty-first anniversary of Anambra State, the reality that God’s time is the best and that there is always light at the end of every tunnel, no matter how dark, dawned on many. It can only be God and no man else could choose someone rejected by many and place him as a cynosure of all eyes.
Peter Cardinal Okpalaeke is a symbol of humility. A role model to the young. A standard for contemporaries. An example of patience and long suffering and a picture of meekness. His calmness in front of untold provocations should be studied and his resilience amd readiness to endure, to wait, should be taught to the younger generation.
As we reflect on the lessons of brotherliness, tolerance, love, peace, unity, and obedience that this man’s life journey make bold and teach us, we reflect on God’s answer to Moses when he prayed in Exodus 33: 18, “… now show me your glory” and God replied, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
We may not know if Cardinal Okpalaeke prayed a similar prayer during his years of tribulation, but one thing we know and that millions of people who watched the swearing in of the new Cardinals last Saturday are well aware of, is that truly, the Lord has not only shown him mercy and compassion, he has lifted him beyond and above his contemporaries.
AD DEI GLORIAM!
WRITTEN BY DAVID OKPOKWASILI
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