Full Text Of Pope's Speech .
I cordially greet the delegation and thank you for
coming from Nigeria in a spirit of pilgrimage.
For me, this meeting is a consolation because I
am deeply saddened by the events of the Church
in Ahiara.
In fact, the Church (and excuse the wording) is
like a widow for having prevented the Bishop
from coming to the Diocese. Many times I have
thought about the parable of the murderous
tenants, of which the Gospel speaks (cf. Mt
21:33-44), that want to grasp the inheritance. In
this current situation the Diocese of Ahiara is
without the bridegroom, has lost her fertility and
cannot bear fruit. Whoever was opposed to
Bishop Okpaleke taking possession of the
Diocese wants to destroy the Church. This is
forbidden; perhaps he does not realize it, but the
Church is suffering as well as the People of God
within her. The Pope cannot be indifferent.
I know very well the events that have been
dragging on for years and I am thankful for the
attitude of great patience of the Bishop, indeed
the holy patience demonstrated by him. I
listened and reflected much, even about the
possibility of suppressing the Diocese, but then I
thought that the Church is a mother and cannot
abandon her many children. I feel great sorrow
for those priests who are being manipulated
even from abroad and from outside the Diocese.
I think that, in this case, we are not dealing with
tribalism, but with an attempted taking of the
vineyard of the Lord. The Church is a mother and
whoever offends her commits a mortal sin, it’s
very serious. However, I decided not to suppress
the Diocese. Instead, I wish to give some
indications that are to be communicated to all:
first of all it must be said that the Pope is
deeply saddened. Therefore, I ask that every
priest or ecclesiastic incardinated in the Diocese
of Ahiara, whether he resides there or works
elsewhere, even abroad, write a letter addressed
to me in which he asks for forgiveness; all must
write individually and personally. We all must
share this common sorrow. In the letter:
1. one must clearly manifest total
obedience to the Pope, and

2. whoever writes must be willing to accept
the Bishop whom the Pope sends and has
appointed.

3. The letter must be sent within 30 days,
from today to July 9th, 2017. Whoever does
not do this will be ipso facto suspended a
divinis and will lose his current office.

This seems very hard, but why must the Pope do
this? Because the people of God are
scandalized. Jesus reminds us that whoever
causes scandal must suffer the consequences.
Maybe someone has been manipulated without
having full awareness of the wound inflicted
upon the ecclesial communion.
To you brothers and sisters, I would like to
express my sincere thanks for your presence;
and also to Cardinal Onaiyekan for his patience
and to Bishop Okpaleke, whose patience and
humility I admire. Thank you all.

en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/06/10/pope_receives_delegation_from_nigerian_diocese_of_ahiara/1318206

Ahiara
Ndi ara.

CC; NCAN Worldwide.

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