Legion Maria Pope Romanus Ong’ombe
By MN Reporter
Unity of Legion Maria church is under threat as two leaders are fighting for the highest position in the church.
Romanus Ong’ombe and Raphael Adika are battling for the Legion Maria church papacy and this has caused a lot of tension in the church.
Apart from seeking to be recognized as the highest authority in Legio Maria, the leaders are also fighting control over the church’s vast property that has led to numerous legal tussles.
This ‘holy’ war has caused a rift in the church with the two leaders drawing parallel support among members of the church whose headquarters is in God Kweru in Migori County.
An election for the pope that was conducted in 2009 is said to be the main cause of the sharp rift where Romanus Ong’ombe was elected to become the pope of the church.
Ong’ombe’s election is said to have irked Adika who defied the election declaring himself winner and formed his headquarters in Kisumu.
Legion Maria pope Romanus Ong’ombe together with other leaders
Since then, Adika has tried in vain to oust Ong’ombe from the papacy and drive him off the church’s headquarters to no avail.
On January 4th this year, Adika is said to have stormed the God Kweru headquaters with a fleet of cars demanding audience with the pope but Ong’ombe was not around.
He then proceeded to Ong’ombe’s home but was locked out by the gate.
According to Fr. Lucas Michael Juma, the pope was on a journey to Tanzania.
Even if the self declared pope were to see the pope, Fr. Juma said Adika ought to have booked an appointment prior to coming to God Kweru.
In an interview with the press, Migori County chairman of Legion Maria church Joseph Odhiambo asked Adika to desist from going to their headquarters.
“We are not ready to fight but we are asking Adika to stay at his own headquarters in Kisumu instead of interfering with us here in Migori,” Odhiambo said.
These sentiments were echoed by Cardinal Administrator Charles Otieno.
“We are waiting for a pending case in court where Adika is supposed to be handing over church property. Until that is done, we are not ready to have any dialogue with him,” Cardinal Otieno said.
Legion Maria pope Romanus Ong’ombe
He added, “We as supporters of Pope Romanus Ong’ombe are still insisting that Adika’s removal was final and irreversible.”
But while addressing the press after his return to the country, Pope Ong’ombe said he was not ready to meet a man who was “bringing division to the church.”
Reached for a comment, Adika said he was unwilling to comment as that would go against the ongoing court case.
The church is not new to these wrangles as at one time, the pope is said to have sacked all cardinals but were later reinstated after they questioned him for allegedly bringing in strangers to lead the church.
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