Citing pains of the outgone year, Metropolitan Archbishop of Lagos, Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Alfred Martins, has urged the Federal Government to mitigate impact of subsidy removal, naira devaluation and others on the citizenry. He advised the government at all levels to prioritise welfare of citizens.  
  
The cleric, who stated that Nigerians are being called upon to make sacrifices and bear the current economic situation, however, urged the current administration to ensure that the result of the sacrifices comes sooner for the people to appreciate if they have a government that cares.  
  
“Therefore, my message is for us to be hopeful, not to lose hope in the midst of these challenges facing the country,” he charged. On the recent killings in Plateau State, the archbishop said the government must be decisive and effect punishment.  
  
He acknowledged insinuations in several quarters that suggest the killings have religious undertone, saying government must take steps to show competence. 
  
Martins touched on the recent pronouncement by Pope Francis on gay union, urging people to read the document by the Holy Father and not depend on third parties for interpretation.  He stressed that the position of the church on the matter was clear independent of amendment by laws of men.  
   
Martins spoke yesterday on the sidelines of a special service to mark the 2024 World Day of Peace celebrated by the church. On speculation that the church had endorsed same sex unions, the cleric noted that the  Pope or the church does not have the power to legalise or turn  around which Christ established. 
  
He said: “What Christ, the church and nature have established over the years is that marriage is between a man and a woman, who are in a stable relationship that can bring children into the world.”

That was said repeatedly in that document by the Pope. And that has been the position of the church and its teachings over time. Gay unions do not qualify to be one of those things that the church can say it is endorsing. Gay union is not marriage in the real sense of the word. 
 
“Yes, of course, it is said in that document that persons, who may be involved in that kind of union, can be blessed. When they say the person can be blessed, it doesn’t say the couple or that the two people can come and receive blessings that look like that of marriage. They cannot.” He said the fact that the church condemns the sinful practice does not mean the church condemns the sinner. 
 
“We can pray for them so that the grace of God that can reform people can be given to such persons. That is what the document is all about,” Martins added.