Why Pope is yet to pick Bishop Cornelius Korir successor

The Catholic Diocese of Eldoret is yet to get a replacement more than a year after the death of Bishop Cornelius Korir (above).

Bishop Korir, a celebrated peace champion in conflict-prone North Rift, died on October 30, 2017. Months later, faithful in the region are still in the dark on when a new leader will be appointed.

Bishop Maurice Antony Crowley of Kitale Diocese, who has been overseeing activities in the vast Diocese of Eldoret since November 2017, explained the meticulous process involved in the appointment of new bishops.

Crowley, 72, said selection of a bishop was a long and thorough process; that starts at the diocese level and ends at the Pope’s desk in the Vatican.

Tough balance

“For me, it has been difficult balancing between serving Kitale and Eldoret dioceses but that is my job. I am devoted to the apostolic work. Eldoret is a big diocese with 62 parishes, and we still don’t know when a new bishop will be appointed,” Bishop Crowley told The Standard in an interview.

He said the process of replacing a bishop who had died in office was even more complex.

Crowley said some clerics had been selected and their names forwarded to the Apostolic Nuncio, who would then submit three names to the Vatican for appointment by the Pope.

The Pope, as explained by Crowley, can pick one candidate out of the three or reject all the candidates and order for a repeat of the selection and vetting process.