The Archbishop of Benin City Metropolitan See, Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze, has issued a solemn call for unity and mutual respect among Catholic priests, stressing the importance of preserving the sacred fraternity that binds them together.
Delivering his homily titled “You Are My Brother – Fratelli Tutti” at the 2025 Chrism Mass held on Holy Thursday at the Holy Cross Cathedral in Benin City, Dr Akubeze urged priests to embody the virtues of love and brotherhood, not just in word, but in action.
He echoed the teachings of Pope Francis, who has consistently emphasized that love for one another must go beyond sentiments and translate into genuine, practical acts of solidarity and compassion—especially among clergy.
“The Sacrament of Holy Orders has created an ontological bond of fraternity amongst us as priests,” he said. “We must reflect this reality by the way we treat and speak about one another.”
Archbishop Akubeze decried the growing tendency among some priests to criticize, belittle, or ignore the achievements of their fellow clergymen, warning that such behavior undermines the very essence of their sacred calling.
“Every time a priest speaks poorly of another priest, he strikes at the heart of our priestly brotherhood,” he lamented. “When you celebrate your brother’s failings or spread them, you shatter the fraternity. When you fail to recognize his good works or use the pulpit to malign him, you weaken the fraternity.”
He reminded the clergy that damaging the reputation of a fellow priest ultimately damages their own. “Our names are tied together, our reputations are intertwined. Even the perception of unfaithfulness affects us all.”
The Archbishop concluded with a strong caution against pride and self-promotion among priests, noting that “when a priest elevates himself by diminishing others, he doesn’t rise—he falls.”
His message serves as both a reflection and a challenge to the clergy to uphold the bonds of priesthood with humility, loyalty, and love, in the spirit of Christ.
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