Benin's Catholic Archbishop passes away just shy of his scheduled departure from office

Catholic Archbishop of Benin, Most Rev. Fr. Augustine Obiora Akubeze, has passed away just one month shy of his retirement, having died in his sleep while on vacation abroad.

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He was due to turn 70 on August 25, which would have also marked his retirement in accordance with the Catholic Church's doctrine.

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A statement titled "Notification of Death" was issued by the Chancellor of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Oyanoafoh, to officially announce Akubeze's death "with profound sorrow, yet with a firm hope in the resurrection".

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Akubeze was ordained as a Catholic priest on October 3, 1987, and went on to be appointed Bishop of Uromi on December 14, 2005, before being consecrated on February 25, 2006.

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He was later appointed Archbishop of Benin City on March 18, 2011, and installed on April 28, 2011, serving in this role until his death.

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According to the statement, "Archbishop Augustine Obiora Akubeze lived a very simple and humble life in faith and obedience to the will of God", and had a profound impact on the lives of many people.

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He was remembered as "a complete gentleman and a father to us all", with the statement concluding "We commend his soul to the infinite mercy of God, may the Lord grant him a merciful judgement and eternal rest".

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The funeral arrangements are set to be communicated at a later date, according to the statement.

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In a separate statement, the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, signed by its Secretary General, Rev. Fr. Michael A. Banjo, acknowledged the incident as the will of God.

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The statement described Archbishop Akubeze as "a unique shepherd who understood that the true development of the Church embraces both spiritual renewal and the holistic growth of God's people".

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Under his care, the Archdiocese of Benin City experienced significant developmental strides, and he was deeply committed to the welfare of his Priests.

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As the erstwhile President of the Bishops Conference of Nigeria, he stood firmly as a pillar of orthodox truth, with his voice "not tickling ears but feeding souls", bringing to light his episcopal motto "Ut Testimonium perhibeam veritati" (Jn. 18:37), meaning "That I may bear witness to the Truth".

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His patient listening and selfless generosity embodied a compassionate Shepherd who knew the smell of his flock, demonstrating that genuine authority in the Church is not measured by power but by service, a result of his deep level of spirituality.