Pope Makes Onaiyekan, 5 Others, Cardinals

Arch Bishop Onaiyekan

The Catholic Pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI, yesterday elevated the Archbishop of the Abuja Diocese, John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, along with five others to the position of cardinal, barely two months after the retirement of the Archbishop of the Lagos Diocese, Anthony Cardinal Okogie.


He becomes the fourth Nigerian to attain that position after Dominic Cardinal Ekanem, who died in 1995, Francis Cardinal Arinze and Okogie.

Benedict, 85, announced the appointment of the new cardinals during his weekly general audience and said they would be formally elevated at a consistory on November 24.


With the new cardinals, there will be 120 cardinals under the age of 80 and thus eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope. Europe still has the most number of cardinals, totalling 62.

Also, with the new additions, the College of Cardinals is more multinational in outlook, comprising 21 from Latin America, 14 from North America, 11 from Africa, 11 representing Asia and one from Oceania.

Onaiyekan, 68, and the five other new cardinals from the United States, India, Lebanon and the Philippines will be consecrated by the Pope.

President Goodluck Jonathan and Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, in swift reactions to Onaiyekan's elevation, said his new status was a testimony to his commitment to duty.

A statement by the Director of Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Rev. Fr. Thomas Asen, said notwithstanding his elevation, Onaiyekan would remain in Abuja to run the affairs of the archdiocese.

The new cardinal was a nominee for this year's Nobel Peace Prize alongside the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammed Sa'ad Abubakar III, for the roles they played in maintaining peace and equilibrium in the face of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North. He co-chairs the Nigeria Inter Religious Council (NIREC) with the sultan.

Reacting to his elevation, Onaiyekan described his appointment as "a great honour to Africa".

"I see the elevation as a great honour to Africa, Nigeria, my country and (Nigeria's capital) Abuja. It is an encouragement for me to continue the good works that I have been doing for humanity," he told AFP by phone from Rome.

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