Pope Francis confers knighthood on Delta State citizens

Pope Francis, yesterday, honoured 15 citizens of Delta State with the prestigious Papal Knights and Dames of St. Gregory and St. Sylvester.

Others were honoured with Papal Medals and faith morals for contributing immensely to the growth of the church and society.

The awardees are: Patrick Ikemefuna, Okechukwu Ofili, Epiphany Azinge, Benedict Chukwuma, John Okolo and Joseph Emuezie.

Others are: Henrienta Odume, Rosaline Bozimo, Henrienta Ajuebon, Caroline Sotunde Patience Elumeze, Carol Enuha, Justina Nwaobi, Elizabeth Okwuadi and Suzanna Nwabude.

The Bishop of Isele-Uku Diocese, Most Rev Michael Elue, who made this known in a statement made available to newsmen in Asaba, said he “will, on behalf of the Holy Father, perform their investiture within a Eucharistic celebration at St. Paul Cathedral, Isele-Uku on Saturday, June 18, 2022.”

He said the ceremony, which is expected to attract dignitaries from all walks of life, including priests, lay faithful and friends, would experience the rich traditional liturgy of the church.

The Chairman of the Planning Committee, Fr. Norbert Uchuno, also added that the recipients had been instrumental to the physical and spiritual development of the local church by helping in no small measures in grassroots evangelisation in the dioceses.

He said: “As soldiers of Christ, the church knights are expected to be fired with a fervent zeal of the Holy Spirit for the social apostolate, holding in high esteem professional competence, family and civic sense, virtues related to social behaviour, such as honesty, sense of justice, sincerity, courtesy and moral courage without which, there can be no religious or social apostolate.

“A vocation of knighthood is one service to every member of the human family. This is why indignity, injustice and inhumanity at any time, in any place, towards any man or woman should arouse in a knight a deep and burning concern, especially when fellow men are denied human and civil rights, when there are riots in our streets and university campuses, when death and devastation are rained on other men’s cities, when people hunger and thirst in other lands or in our own,” he said.