Peter Takeo Okada

Who is Peter Takeo Okada?

Peter Takeo Okada is a Japanese clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current archbishop of Tokyo.

Okada was born in Ichikawa in Chiba Prefecture. He was ordained a priest on 3 November 1973. On 15 April 1991, he was appointed bishop of Urawa by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on the following 16 September from Seiichi Shirayanagi, with Archbishops Paul Hisao Yasuda and Francis Xavier Kaname Shimamoto serving as co-consecrators.

Following the early resignation of Cardinal Shirayanagi, he was appointed archbishop of Tokyo on 17 February 2000. His installation took place on the following 3 September. In addition to his role as Archbishop, he is president of the Japanese bishops' conference.

According to reports, Archbishop Okada was likely to be made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI at a consistory in November 2010. However he was not among the cardinals that were created during the consistory of 20 November that year, though is thought to be on the list for the next consistory in 2012.

In February 2011, Archbishop Okada in defending the rejection of the Neocatechumenal Way in Japanese dioceses said "the Way's activities over the past 30 years can in no way be called a success. The fact is that the character and conduct of the Way have not adapted well to the Church or society of Japan. It is perhaps necessary for the Way in Japan to suspend its activities for a period of consideration and reflection which could pave the way for dialog with the Church in Japan". He continued saying "For thirteen years now, more than 30,000 people a year have committed suicide in Japan. I want the people of the Way to see this reality. I want them to grapple first and foremost with the question of what they can do for these people. If they act in ways that the members of Japanese society can understand and sympathize with, they will surely gain this society's trust. I pray and hope that they will join us in undertaking evangelisation tailored for the needs of the people of Japan."