Gulu, 22 March, 2024 / 9:11 pm (ACI Africa).
Pope Francis has accepted the retirement of Archbishop John Baptist Odama from the pastoral care of Uganda’s Gulu Catholic Archdiocese, and has appointed Bishop Raphael p’Mony Wokorach of the country’s Nebbi Catholic Diocese as his successor.
The latest administrative changes in the East African nation were made public by the Holy See Press Office on Friday, March 22, and confirmed in writing by the Apostolic Nuncio in the country, Archbishop Luigi Bianco.
In his letter announcing the transfer and elevation of Bishop Wokorach, Archbishop Bianco says, “The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the Archdiocese of Gulu presented by Archbishop John Baptist Odama, for reaching the age limit, according to Can 401, § 1 of the Code of Canon Law.”
Archbishop Odama, the Apostolic Nuncio adds, who becomes “Archbishop Emeritus of Gulu, has been appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Gulu until the day of the canonical possession by the new Archbishop.”
The Ugandan Archdiocese has been under the pastoral care of 76-year-old Archbishop Odama since its erection in 1999. He had been serving as the Local Ordinary of Nebbi since his Episcopal Consecration in May 1996.
