Pastoral Agents in Nigeria Say National Reconciliation “the best way to honour Pope Francis”

Jos, 05 May, 2025 / 10:49 PM

Restoring harmony and unity across the West African nation of Nigeria would be “the best way” to show respect to the life and mission of the late Pope Francis, various pastoral agents in the country that is Africa’s most populous nation have told ACI Africa. 

In separate interviews on the sidelines of the Memorial Mass in honour of Pope Francis that the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) organized on Saturday, May 3, officials of CSN, the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) Nigeria, the Catholic Women Organization (CWO) and Caritas Nigeria hailed the late Pontiff for his commitment to peace, humility, and the poor and urged the people of God in Nigeria to embrace these values.

“The best way to honour Pope Francis is for our country to reconcile with itself. I would like to see a country and a world where peace is pursued with such passion and humility that even those who lead warring nations are moved to reconciliation,” CSN Secretary General, Fr. Michael Banjo, told ACI Africa.

Fr. Banjo added, “If there is anyone against whom you hold a grudge, anyone with whom you have fallen out, reach out to that person. Seek reconciliation as a way of honouring the legacies of Pope Francis. That is the only path to enduring peace in our world.”

He lauded the late Pope Francis’ simplicity and solidarity with the poor, saying, “He was a humble servant of the poor. While he could afford opulent limousines, he preferred a modest Ford Focus.”

The late Pontiff, the Secretary General of CSN recalled, “celebrated his birthdays not with dignitaries, but with the homeless and the forgotten, sharing meals with them. He ate in a common cafeteria with Vatican staff, carried his bag, and rejected the trappings of power.”

In the interview on the sidelines of the Memorial Mass held at CSN’s St. Gabriel Catholic Chaplaincy in Abuja, Fr. Banjo urged Nigerian leaders to draw inspiration from the life and lifestyle of the late Pope Francis. 

“For those entrusted with leadership, Pope Francis’ life reminds us that true greatness lies not in the accumulation of wealth or the display of power, but in sacrificial service and compassion for the weak,” he said. 

The Nigerian Catholic Priest continued in reference to the late Pontiff, “If both civil and Church leaders in Nigeria could adopt even a fraction of his simplicity and love for the poor, we would witness a radical transformation in our society.”

Also speaking to ACI Africa, the National Director of PMS in Nigeria, Fr. Solomon Zaku, eulogized the late Pope Francis as “a great missionary and witness of Christ who preached the word of God with conviction, joy, and happiness.”

Fr. Zaku noted that the late Pontiff not only preached but lived the Gospel, supporting evangelization through “significant doctrinal writings”, which he said had a global outreach. 

“He wrote four Encyclicals, seven Apostolic Exhortations, and eight Apostolic Letters. These documents were aimed at deepening the mission of the Church and encouraging the faithful to live out their faith,” he said.

The PMS official recalled that in his 47 apostolic journeys outside Italy during which he visited some 68 countries, the late Pope Francis “will be remembered for his humility, simplicity, social justice advocacy, and missionary commitment. He was a true witness to Christ.”

On his part, the Executive Secretary of Caritas Nigeria, Fr. Peter Babangida, recalled how the late Pontiff gave theological and moral depth to the work of humanitarian agencies like Caritas.

“Pope Francis helped us understand that humanitarian action and spiritual witness are not separate endeavours. He actively supported various Caritas Internationalis campaigns, such as the One Human Family, Food for All initiative, and the Share the Joy campaign,” Fr. Babangida recalled. 

For the Nigerian Caritas official, the late Pontiff “journeyed with Caritas, advocating through both his words and actions for a world where social justice prevails. He reminded us that solidarity is not just a feeling; it is a commitment to act.”

Fr. Babangida told ACI Africa that Caritas Nigeria would continue to walk the path laid down by the late Pope Francis, by “propagating the Gospel of love and trust, putting more effort into peace building, the protection of lives, and environmental stewardship.”

The late Pontiff, he emphasized, “was a Pope for Caritas, and his legacy guides our mission.”

Meanwhile, the Vice President of CWO Nigeria, Gbile Mary, has acknowledged with appreciation the late Pope Francis’ efforts to recognize the important “role of women” in the Church. 

“One of the most quietly transformative aspects of Pope Francis’ papacy was his attention to the dignity and role of women. He consistently emphasized the importance of women in the Church and society,” Mrs. Gbile told ACI Africa during the May 3 interview.

The CWO official said that the late Pontiff also spoke against the “abuse, exploitation, and marginalization of women.”