“Pope Francis embraced every person, regardless of background. His humility attracted people back to the Church. He showed that Christ’s love is for all,” Fr. Ali told ACI Africa.
He said, “One of Pope Francis’ notable contributions was his vocal stance on environmental protection and social justice.”
“He reminded the world that peace and environmental care are intertwined. You can’t talk about a clean world without addressing violence, injustice, and poverty,” Fr. Ali further said.
The Nigerian Catholic Priest explained, “The Pope believed that without strong families, there’s no strong society. He fought not just for Catholics, but for global peace. He spoke up for the underdogs, the migrants, those displaced by war. His humility was so overwhelming—he even carried his own bag.”
“Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis championed mercy, inclusivity, and dialogue across divisions. Many Nigerians saw him not only as a religious leader but as a global figure of peace and justice,” Fr. Ali said.
Sir Patrick Nnaka Okwuba, a devout Catholic, shared the pain that accompanies the passing of a revered figure, saying, “Death is painful, no matter the age. When I heard the Holy Father had passed, I felt it deeply. But we thank God he lived to the age of 88. It’s a celebration of life lived long and well.”
The Nigerian member of Knights of St. John International (KSJI), reflecting on Pope Francis’ teachings, outlined his approach to fasting, which shifted the focus from physical abstinence to moral integrity.
“Pope Francis taught us that it is more important to fast from sin than from food. It is very important that one lives above sin. One conquers sin. One does not live in sin while trying to say that he is fasting,” he said.
Sir Okwuba explained that, “Pope Francis taught us that if every person should practice religion the way it is, there won't be killings, there won't be stealing, there won't be kidnapping, there won't be this and that. So, I pray that our people should learn to live together, to learn to avoid sin.”
On his part, Mr. Lazarus Ebirim commended the Pope for clarifying controversial topics such as same-sex marriage, saying, “There was a lot of confusion at one point, but the Holy Father never approved same-sex marriage. He maintained that marriage, as created by God, is between a man and a woman. That clarity helped preserve the sanctity of family.”
