Francis Demands "Total Obedience" From Priests Opposing Their Bishop

On June 8th, Pope Francis received a delegation of the diocese of Ahiara, Nigeria. Priests and lay-people in the diocese openly rebel against Bishop Peter Ebere Okpaleke (54), whom Benedict XVI named in 2012. Okpaleke is an Igbo and most of the Catholics in Ahiara are ethnically Mbaise.

Against this opposition Francis reacted with unprecedented severity. He asks from each priest of the diocese to sign a profession of his "total obedience" to the Pope and his acceptance of bishop Okpaleke. Priests who refuse to sign until July 9th will be suspended.

Picture: © Michael Ehrmann/Aleteia, CC BY-NC-ND, #newsXzeviptviy