Anthony Olubunmi Okogie | |
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| Cardinal,Archbishop Emeritus of Lagos | |
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| Church | Catholic (Roman Rite) |
| Archdiocese | Lagos |
| Province | Lagos |
| Metropolis | Lagos |
| See | Lagos |
| Appointed | 13 April 1973 |
| Retired | 25 May 2012 |
| Term ended | 25 May 2012 |
| Predecessor | John Kwao Amuzu Aggey |
| Successor | Alfred Adewale Martins |
| Other post | Cardinal-Priest of Beat Vergine Maria del Monte Carmelo a Mostacciano |
| Previous posts |
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| Orders | |
| Ordination | 11 December 1966 by John Kwao Amuzu Aggey |
| Consecration | 29 August 1971 by Owen McCoy |
| Created cardinal | 21 October 2003 byPope John Paul II |
| Rank | Cardinal-Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Anthony Olubunmi Okogie (1936-06-16)16 June 1936 (age 89) Lagos, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Parents | Prince Michael Okojie Lucy Adunni Okojie (née Afolabi) |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Anthony Olubumni Okogie | |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | Lagos |
Anthony Olubunmi Okogie (born 16 June 1936[1]) is a NigerianCardinal Priest andArchbishop Emeritus of Lagos in the Roman Catholic Church.[2]
Born in Lagos,Nigeria, Okogie was born to a royal family ofUromi inEdo State. His parents were Prince Michael Okojie - who was himself a son of KingOgbidi Okojie of Uromi - and Lucy Adunni Okojie (née Afolabi).[3] His father wasEsan and his mother wasYoruba. 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 atKing's College.
In 1971, he was consecrated Titular Bishop of Mascula and Auxiliary ofOyo, and in 1973 named archbishop. As archbishop, Okogie was president of theChristian 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.[4]
He was proclaimed Cardinal byPope John Paul II in theconsistory of 21 October 2003, and holds the title of Cardinal Priest ofSanta Maria del Monte Carmelo a Mostacciano (or in English Blessed Virgin Mary of Mt. Carmel of Mostacciano). During his cardinalate, Okogie was one of thecardinal electors who participated in the2005 papal conclave that selectedPope Benedict XVI.[5] Cardinal Okogie was also one of thecardinal electors who participated in the2013 papal conclave that electedPope Francis.[6][7][8] 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.[6] During the procession and entry into the conclave, Cardinal Okogie was the one cardinal from theLatin church who did not wear themozzetta.[6]
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.
In 2007, he condemned the government approval of a condom factory.[9]
Cardinal Okogie has defended the Catholic Church's laws on celibacy for Catholic priests.[10]
Okogie has been critical of American culture but continues to pray for the country and its citizens.
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | — 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 | President of the Nigerian Episcopal Conference 1988 – 1994 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Cardinal-Priest of Beata Vergine Maria del Monte Carmelo a Mostacciano 21 October 2003 – | Incumbent |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
