Advertisement

Pope Francis Accepts Retirement of Nigeria’s Port Harcourt Catholic Bishop

Silas Isenjia

By Silas Isenjia

Port Harcourt, 09 April, 2025 / 8:09 pm (ACI Africa).

Pope Francis has accepted the retirement of Bishop Camillus Archibong Etokudoh from the pastoral care of the Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt in Nigeria.

The retirement of Bishop Archibong, who has attained the canonical age of 75, was made public on Tuesday, April 9 and published by the Holy See Press Office.

Born on 3 August 1949 in Ikot Uko Etor in Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Ikot Ekpene, Bishop Archibong was ordained a Priest of the same Diocese in July 1978.

He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Ikot Ekpene Diocese in January 1988 and assigned the Titular See of Capra; he was Consecrated in May 1988. 

He was at the helm of Ikot Ekpene Diocese after he was appointed in September 1989. Some 20 years later, in May 2009, Bishop Archibong was transferred to Port Harcourt Diocese, where he was installed in July 2009.

Advertisement

Bishop Archibong advocated for peace during Nigeria’s 2023 general polls through prayer initiatives. For instance, he declared three days of fasting and prayer for the success of the general elections in Africa’s most populous nation.

In the statement that he issued a week ahead of the 2023 Lenten Season, the Nigerian Catholic Bishop urged the electorate to go out and vote for the candidates of their choice and called upon officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct transparent elections.

Bishop Archibong urged the youths to “shun all forms of violence” during the electioneering period and not “allow themselves to be used as thugs by politicians.”

Meanwhile, the representative of the Holy Father in Nigeria has announced the appointment of the Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt, Bishop Patrick S. Eluke, as the Apostolic Administrator of the same Episcopal See.

Silas Isenjia

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.

Trending