Anthony Olubunmi Okogie

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His Eminence

Anthony Olubunmi Okogie
Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus of Lagos
ChurchCatholic (Roman Rite)
ArchdioceseLagos
ProvinceLagos
MetropolisLagos
SeeLagos
Appointed13 April 1973
RetiredMay 25, 2012
Term ended25 May 2012
Predecessor
Successor
Other post(s)Cardinal-Priest of Beata Vergine Maria del Monte Carmelo a Mostacciano
Orders
Ordination11 December 1966
by 
Consecration29 August 1971
by 
Created cardinal21 October 2003
by Pope John Paul II
RankCardinal-Priest
Personal details
Birth nameAnthony Olubunmi Okogie
Born (1936-06-16) 16 June 1936 (age 85)
Lagos, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
DenominationCatholic
ParentsPrince Michael Okojie
Lucy Adunni Okojie (née Afolabi)
Previous post(s)
Coat of armsAnthony Olubunmi Okogie's coat of arms
Styles of
Anthony Olubumni Okogie
Coat of arms of Anthony Olubunmi Okogie.svg
Reference styleHis Eminence
Spoken styleYour Eminence
Informal styleCardinal
SeeLagos

Anthony Olubunmi Okogie (born 16 June 1936) is a Nigerian Cardinal Priest and Archbishop Emeritus of Lagos in the Roman Catholic Church.

Biography[]

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Okogie was born to a royal family of Uromi in Edo State. His parents were Prince Michael Okojie - who was himself a son of King Ogbidi Okojie of Uromi - and Mrs Lucy Adunni Okojie (née Afolabi).[1] His father was Esan and his mother was Yoruba. Okogie was ordained priest on 11 December 1966. He holds a licentiate in sacred theology, and had planned to study in Rome, but was called to Nigeria where he was a curate at the Holy Cross Cathedral. He was drafted into the Nigerian army, and served there as a chaplain. After another period of service at Holy Cross Cathedral, he was an instructor at King's College.

In 1971, he was consecrated Titular Bishop of Mascula and Auxiliary of Oyo, and in 1973 named archbishop. As Archbishop, Okogie was the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, and, from 1994 to 2000, headed the Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria.

Cardinal Okogie volunteered to die in place of a Muslim woman who had been condemned to death by stoning by an Islamic court for adultery.[2]

He was proclaimed Cardinal by Pope John Paul II in the consistory of 21 October 2003, and holds the title of Cardinal Priest of Santa Maria del Monte Carmelo a Mostacciano (or in English Blessed Virgin Mary of Mt. Carmel of Mostacciano). During his cardinalate, Okogie was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that selected Pope Benedict XVI.[3] Cardinal Okogie was also one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2013 papal conclave that elected Pope Francis.[4][5][6] During the opening day of the 2013 conclave, Cardinal Okogie was notable in that he was the one cardinal who was in a wheelchair during most of the proceedings, standing up only when it came time for him to walk towards the gospels and make the cardinal electors' oath.[4] During the procession and entry into conclave, Cardinal Okogie was the one cardinal from the Latin church who did not wear the mozzetta.[4]

His resignation from the pastoral governance of the see of Lagos because of having reached the age limit of 75 years was accepted on 25 May 2012.

Views[]

Condoms[]

In 2007, he condemned the government approval of a condom factory.[7]

Celibacy[]

Cardinal Okogie has defended the Catholic Church's laws on celibacy for Catholic priests.[8]

American culture[]

Okogie has been critical of American culture, especially as it relates to priestly vocations. He said “those people there, in the US, they don’t value anything any more. And how do you want priests to come from a place like that?”[8]

References[]

  1. ^ Tomori, Pascal (1991). Anthony Olubunmi Okogie: The People's Bishop. Nigeria: Jeromelaiho & Associates. p. 63. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  2. ^ Obed Minchakpu (1 February 2002). "Archbishop Proposes to Die in Place of Woman Sentenced to Stoning". Christianity Today. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  3. ^ "The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church: Conclaves of the 21st Century (2005)". Salvador Miranda. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c Procession and entrance in Conclave (Television production) (in Italian). Rome: Centro Televisivo Vaticano. 12 March 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  5. ^ "Cardinal electors – Conclave of March 2013 – Arranged in alphabetical order". Salvador Miranda. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  6. ^ "Conclave of March 2013". Salvador Miranda. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  7. ^ Peter Ajayi Dada (4 January 2007). "Nigerian cardinal condemns government approval of condom factory". Catholic News Service. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Chioma Gabriel, Sam Eyoboka (24 July 2009). "I had three girlfriends, I still have sexual urge". Vanguard. Retrieved 22 February 2013.

External links[]

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Francis Anani Kofi Lodonu 		— TITULAR —
Titular Bishop of Mascula
5 June 1971 – 13 April 1973 		Succeeded by
Jan Bernard Szlaga
Preceded by
John Kwao Amuzu Aggey 		Metropolitan Archbishop of Lagos
13 April 1973 – 25 May 2012 		Succeeded by
Alfred Adewale Martins
Preceded by
Gabriel Gonsum Ganaka 		President of the Nigerian Episcopal Conference
1988 – 1994 		Succeeded by
Albert Kanene Obiefuna
Preceded by
John Baptist Wu Cheng-chung 		Cardinal-Priest of Beata Vergine Maria del Monte Carmelo a Mostacciano
21 October 2003 – 		Incumbent
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