Pope Francis appoints new bishop for Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri

By EZEKIEL OBI, Abuja –

The head of the Catholic Church, His Holiness, Pope Francis, has appointed Most Rev. Fr. (Dr.) Lucius Ugorji as the new bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri.

Most Rev. Dr. Ugorji, who until his appointment was the former Catholic Bishop of Umuahia and Apostolic Administrator of Ahiara Diocese. He was appointed to replace the outgoing Catholic Bishop of Owerri, Anthony l Obinna.

Archbishop Antonio Filipazzi, Apostolic Nuncio, who represented the Pope made the announcement during the ongoing First Plenary meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria in Abuja.

He said Holy Father, Pope Francis, has accepted the voluntary retirement of His Grace Most Rev. Dr Anthony Obinna as the Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Archdiocese.

According to him, the respected clergy Archbishop Anthony l Obinna, who has been in that position since March 26 1994, will be replaced by Archbishop Ugorji who still remains the Apostolic Administrator of Ahiara Diocese.

Ugorji is replacing Mr Obinna after the bishop reached 75 years. The mandatory retirement age for bishops in the Catholic church is 75.

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