The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, on Monday, mourned the death of Pope Francis, describing him as a fallen Iroko tree whose passing has shaken the world.
Kaigama disclosed this in Abuja, at the sidelines of the 33rd Sir David Osunde Foundation (SDOF) annual thanksgiving celebration for persons with disabilities.
He said: “In our local parlance, we say a mighty Iroko has fallen. It’s fall that shakes the entire world. Today, the whole world mourns, Christians and non-Christians alike. We all mourn because he was truly a great man.
“His legacies are countless. He showed us the face of Jesus, the face of mercy and love. He travelled across the world, proclaiming and embodying that love and mercy. And for that, he will be remembered. Like Jesus, he reached out to the sick.
“He stood with prisoners and those society had cast aside. He was present for them. He was a deeply human Pope, attentive to the needs of the ordinary person. May the Lord now grant him an eternal home in His kingdom, and may he enjoy the blessings and peace of heaven.”
Kaigama noted that the sense of loss was already evident during Mass.
The Bishop added, “It’s a great loss. You could feel it at Mass today, the priest already missed him. You see, when a Pope dies, his name is no longer mentioned in prayers. Yet instinctively, the priest found himself saying, ‘Let us pray for Pope Francis.’ That tells you the depth of the loss.
“He is gone now, and so we wait for a new Pope. By the grace of God, we trust He will give us another father like him. For us Catholics, this is a moment to pray for the eternal repose of Pope Francis.
“In the Archdiocese, we should gather in our churches and offer prayers for his soul. And beyond that, we must ask the Holy Spirit to guide the Church.
“This is a delicate moment of transition. A new Pope must be chosen. Who will he be? Where will he come from? Only the Holy Spirit knows. So let us pray earnestly, asking the Spirit of God to take control and show us the way forward.
