Buhari, Kaigama describe Benedict XVI as ‘humble lover of Christ’

By : Guardian Nigeria

Date: 6 January 2023 5:33am WAT

EDITORS NOTE: Graphic content / Italian PM Giorgia Meloni (R) pays her respect to the body of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI laying in state at the St. Peter's basilica in the Vatican, on January 2, 2023. - Benedict, a conservative intellectual who in 2013 became the first pontiff in six centuries to resign, died on December 31, 2022, at the age of 95. Thousands of Catholics began paying their respects on January 2, 2023 to former pope Benedict XVI at St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, at the start of three days of lying-in-state before his funeral. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP)

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Archdiocese, Ignatius Kaigama, has described the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI as a humble follower and lover of Christ. He stated this at a requiem mass in honour of Pope Benedict at the Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro Cathedral, Abuja, yesterday.

The late Pontiff, born Joseph Ratzinger, died on December 31, 2022 at the Vatican, aged 95, after resigning on health grounds a decade ago. Kaigama said the Pope’s death is a reminder that we belong to Christ and our request to return to him can be any time.

He said the church was consoled that the Pope lived a long prayerful and productive life. He said: “He also addressed the need to purify the Church and ourselves. He hated and discouraged bribe; he faced up the issues of immorality -sexual abuse, abortion and homosexuality.

“He stressed the importance of interreligious and intercultural dialogue. He worked to build bridges between Christian and other faiths. The Pope was interested in a true meaningful dialogue and unity of the Church.

“After his surprise resignation, Benedict the 16th was only known to have left the Vatican briefly and was rarely seen in public. He had a very cordial relationship with other church leaders.”

In his remark, President Muhammadu Buhari condoled with the Vatican, clergies and Catholics over the Pope’s death and described him as a true servant of God.

The President was represented by Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen. Buhari said: “I hope he will be remembered as a true servant of God, who lived in humility and peace. I pray God to accept his soul whom he lived to serve all his life.” he said.

Also speaking, Monsignor Antonio Guido-Filipazzi, the ‘Apostolic Nuncio’ to Nigeria, thanked all laymen and clergies who had come to sympathise with the Church.