Reverend Father (Dr) Peter Chukwu installed the New Bishop of Abakaliki Catholic Diocese.

From. Clement Nnachi (abakaliki)

..as Pope Francis admonished Christians to root out seed of Discord

Reverend Father (Dr) Peter Chukwu was on Thursday installed as the New Bishop of Abakaliki Catholic Diocese, following the retirement of Rev Dr Michael Nnachi Okoro who was the former Bishop of the Diocese.

In a similar vein, Catholic Pontiff Pope Francis 1, has  called on Catholics across the globe to root out seed of division and discord in the church.

The Pontiff gave the admonition in abakaliki the Ebonyi State capital on the occassion of the Episcopal Ordination and installation  of the New Bishop of the Abakaliki Diocese Father (Dr) Peter Chukwu.

Pope Francis reiterated that Catholics all over the world were one family and must avoid pluralistic and selfish attitude.

The ordination and installation of Reverend Dr Chukwu was performed by Reverend Antonio Filipazzi, the Apostolic Nuncio of the Catholic Church  to Nigeria on behalf of the Pope

 “If you want to build the church as a family, it is necessary to avoid all ethnocentrism and excessive particularism. Try instead to consider reconciliation and grow communion between different ethnic group.

“We Catholics are one family not because we have black ties that unite us, We are one family because we are saved by  the one redeemer Jesus Christ, washed by the  one baptism, marked by the same holy spirit, nourished the one heavenly bread.

 “This must stop, this must stop. Without pointing the fingers on others, everyone in the church must root out from himself, from herself, any seed of division and discord.

 “Dear brothers and sisters, as everyone in the Diocese of Abakaliki welcome the new Bishop, may all commit themselves to overcoming what divides us at every level and to bring in truth, charity and humility, true family within the great family of the universal church”, he told the church.

Pope Francis urged the New Bishop  to ensure the growth of the church, and equally ensure the spiritual growth which was the most important in the Diocese.

 In a remark, Governor David Umahi  said that his administration has partnered with the Catholic church resulting to the rapid transformation of  the state.

He described the ordination and installation of Reverend Dr Chukwu as divine and highly acceptable by all  the people of Ebonyi state and assured the new Bishop of adequate support to succeed.

Earlier in his speech, Bishop  Chukwu appreciated the Pope for finding him worthy to be installed as the Bishop of Abakaliki Diocese assuring that with God Grace he would discharge this Episcopal responsibilities to the best of his ability.

It would be recalled that the New Bishop Dr Peter Chukwu was ordained a Catholic Priest on 3rd July, 1993.