The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Onaiyekan, was on Wednesday named a cardinal by the Pope Benedict XVI, during his weekly general audience.

Onaiyekan, who was named alongside five others as new cardinals, will join the ranks of senior churchmen who will elect the next pope.

The other promoted prelates are Archbishop James Harvey, prefect of the papal household; Archbishop of Bogota, Colombia, Ruben Salazar Gomez; Archbishop of Manila, Philippines, Luis Antonio Tagle; Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites in Lebanon, His Beatitude Bechara Boutros Rai; and the major Archbishop of the Trivandrum of the Siro-Malankaresi in India, His Beatitude Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal.

Onaiyekan was born on January 29, 1944 in Kabba, Kogi State, to Bartholomew and Joann Onaiyekan. He attended St. Mary's Catholic School in Kabba from 1949 until 1956, Mount St. Michael's Secondary School in Aliade, Benue State from 1957 until 1962, and Ss. Peter & Paul Major Seminary in Bodija, Ibadan from 1963 until 1965.

He completed his religious studies in Rome in 1969, and was ordained priest on August 3 of that year, following a scholarship from Premier of Northern Region Sir Ahmadu Bello. Onaiyekan taught at St. Kizito's College, Isanlu in 1969. He became rector of St. Clement Junior Seminary in Lokoja in 1971, finished his Licentiate of Sacred Scripture in 1973 and earned his doctorate in 1976. He became Vice Rector of Ss. Peter & Paul in 1977.

American, James Harvey, was the direct superior of the pope's former butler, Paolo Gabriele who was convicted on October 6 of stealing the pope's private papers and leaking them to a reporter. The breach was deemed the greatest Vatican security breach in modern times.

The new cardinal, Harvey, will now become archpriest of a Roman Basilica. The Vatican spokesman denied he was being removed because of the scandal.

The Pope said the new cardinals would be formally elevated at a consistory November 24.

The nominations increase the number of cardinals under the age of 80 to 120. It also gives the College of Cardinals a more multinational outlook: Latin America will have 21; North America, 14; Africa, 11; Asia, 11, and Oceana one. This addresses, in part, the geographic impasse that exists in favour of Europe in general in the last few consistories and Italy in particular.

Only cardinals under age 80 are eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope. Europe still has the most, with 62.

papadenzel: Breaking News: Pope names six new cardinals which include John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, Catholic Archbishop of Abuja,Nigeria.

VATICAN CITY –  Pope Benedict XVI has named six new cardinals, adding prelates from Lebanon, the Philippines, Nigeria, Colombia, India and the United States to the ranks of cardinals who will elect his successor.

Benedict made the surprise announcement during his weekly general audience Wednesday and said they would be elevated at a consistory Nov. 24.

The new cardinals are:Archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria, John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan; Monsignor James Harvey, the American prefect of the pope's household; Archbishop of Bogota, Colombia, Ruben Salazar Gomez; Archbishop of Manila, Philippines, Luis Antonio Tagle; Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites in Lebanon, Bechara Boutros Rai; and the major Archbishop of the Trivandrum of the Siro-Malankaresi in India, Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal

tpia@:
Hmm, he's from kabba?

There seem to be a lot of activity/appointments going on around the kwara axis.

Mcleo007:

Yeah, Kabba in Kogi state. He's such a vibrant guy, and a scholar. Very intelligent man, if you listen or converse with him. knows his way with words around almost all issues u present to him. A true gem!

fineheart: A big congrats to the new Cardinal. This man of God thorougly deserves the elevation. This is one of the few good news concerning Nigerians in recent times. I expect this to make front page as we should not always be fed with bad news all the times.

[/quote]7. Logicboy03(m): Quote .

The same catholic church that gives millions to Africa but takes billions back? [quote]

chukwudi44: 7. Logicboy03(m): Quote .

The same catholic church that gives millions to Africa but takes billions back?

Catholic church taking billions from africa? Where on earth did u get that from? The catholic church has given to thia continent more than anyother non governmental organisation in the world throgh the provision of schools,hospitals,charity homes e.t.c

Logicboy03:


The same guy that was destroyed by Hitchens?



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5OMNPmoVAw

plaetton:

Can faith ever be a match for reason?

Logicboy03:


Lol, the offerings, the tax breaks, govt donations and businesses (Mass bulletins sales, ads in the bulletins, sales of rosaries, bibles etc) are all nothing?

Logicboy03:


Lol, the offerings, the tax breaks, govt donations and businesses (Mass bulletins sales, ads in the bulletins, sales of rosaries, bibles etc) are all nothing?

Logicboy03:


Lol, the offerings, the tax breaks, govt donations and businesses (Mass bulletins sales, ads in the bulletins, sales of rosaries, bibles etc) are all nothing?

Mariojane: . Fool dont ur church take offerings,taxes,sells books and dont ur overseer and pastors make books for selling. If u dont have beta tin to say then keep quiet. Catholic church is not like oda churches of urs dat exploit members for money cos it is not own by anybody. Think b4 u talk next time

solbil: its long overdue. It seems the pope is aware of his demise anytime soon. Despite this, the possiblity of seeing a pope from sub-saharan africa is still very slim. Can you imagine a black pope!

chukwudi44: 7. Logicboy03(m): Quote .

The same catholic church that gives millions to Africa but takes billions back?

Catholic church taking billions from africa? Where on earth did u get that from? The catholic church has given to thia continent more than anyother non governmental organisation in the world throgh the provision of schools,hospitals,charity homes e.t.c

Josh316:

chai! you know nothing of these things...
the bulletins barely pay for the printing yet alone for the 'church' to take billions
the church is self sustaining and does rely on collections to pay staff and run the church. occasionally, some collections are sent to Rome a few times a year to help with certain projects which include helping catholic churches in challenged parts of the world. However, most collections from the church stay in the church and run the church, while there is a parish pastoral council, made up of parishioners who ensure that the money is used judiciously and that there is trasparency. no one 'owns' any church property even the cars the rev fathers ride are church property.

in all, i think the contribution of the catholic church in Rome to the development of the church here, has been immense...

berem: abeg help me tell the OLODO!!

Logicboy03:



See this brainwashed christian!


The catholic church makes a huge profit off the bulletins. You forget that the catholic church has its own printing presses.

The govt donations and tax free status of churches is another source of income from them.

The catholic church in rome is worth over $1 billion. dont be a fool

Peter262: THE WORLD OLDEST CULT HAS APPOINTED ANODA CARDINAL FROM NAIJA, ANTI CHRIST IS REALY AT WORK, THE POPE IS THE MESSENGER OF SATAN FROM HELL, AM A PURE PROTESTANT AGAINST ANTICHRIST CUZ CATHOLIC IS NOT A CHUTCH BUT A CULT. EMMANUEL MILINGO WHERE ARE YOU, READ UR BIBLE AD FORGET ABOUT THIS WOLVES IN SHEEP CLOTHING. TIME TO PRAY TO GOD. GO AD READ JERMIAHE33;3