Pope demands Nigerian priests' obedience over Ahiara bishop

Pope Francis has given the clergy in Ahiara until 9 July to write a letter asking for forgiveness

Pope Francis has told a group of Nigerian priests to pledge obedience to him or face suspension from the church.

The row is over the refusal by clergy in the diocese of Ahiara to accept the appointment of a bishop made in 2012.

The pontiff told an audience of Nigerian Catholics in Rome last week that the "people of God are scandalised" by what has happened.

It is unusual for the pope to issue this kind of threat, says the BBC's religion correspondent Martin Bashir.

He gave the clergy until 9 July to each write a letter declaring their obedience to him and asking for forgiveness.

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The president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, was at the meeting in Rome and told the BBC that the pope was very sad about what was happening and he could see "the pain in his eyes".

Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama said the Pope was visibly upset

"He was upset that his children were going in a different direction," the archbishop added.

Ever since Bishop Peter Okpaleke was appointed by the Pope's predecessor, Benedict XVI, Archbishop Kaigama has been part of a group trying to persuade the clergy in Ahiara, south-eastern Nigeria, to accept the appointment.

He told the BBC that the problem was that the local clergy and the bishop were from different clans of the Igbo ethnic group.

He added that the priests also questioned why someone from outside the diocese was appointed when one of them was just as qualified,

In 2012, the clergy held protests and coordinated petitions asking for a bishop to be chosen from the area.

Praying 'for God's intervention'

But Archbishop Kaigama argued that the "Catholic church has been operating like this for hundreds of years and that's not going to change now because they want someone from their area.

"The Pope needs absolute obedience."

Ahiara is in Mbaise, a predominantly Catholic region of Imo State, while Bishop Okpaleke is from neighbouring Anambra State.

It is not clear if the clergy has responded to the ultimatum.

In the meantime, Archbishop Kaigama said, he, and other Nigerian Catholics, were praying "for God's intervention" to help find a solution.