‘The world will miss a genuine leader’ — Kukah, Catholic secretariat eulogise Pope Francis

Mathew Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, says the “world will miss a genuine leader — a very loving and caring man,” following the passing of Pope Francis.

The Vatican announced Pope Francis’ death on Monday morning, noting that he died from a cerebral stroke and subsequent heart failure. He was 88.

In a tribute to the late Catholic Church leader, Kukah said the late Pope Francis “set Jesus free from the walls erected by those Christians who sought to imprison him in cages of dogma by exploiting the message of liberation”.

He said the late Pope Francis stood with the weak, adding that the world has lost a moral compass with his death.

“In life, Pope Francis stood with the weak and the poor. He called attention to the threats posed by the environmental exploitation of mother earth,” Kukah said.

“In 2015, he published his earth breaking encyclical, Laudato Si (On Care of our common home), calling attention to the threats posed by environmental exploitation by the powerful. He was an honest, caring, loving man who placed emphasis on our common humanity.

“He called the world’s attention towards the need to raise the bar on friendship, brotherhood, sisterhood, and collaboration. He developed a friendship with the Chief Imam of Al-Azhar Mosque, which led to the publication in 2020 of his most readable encyclical, Fratelli Tutti (All Brothers/Sisters).

“He had laid down his pastoral roadmap very early in his papacy with the first encyclical titled Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) in 2013.

“He generated controversies with many of his views, and different commentators will focus on the issues that fit their ideological persuasion, but we cannot deny that the world has lost a moral compass.

“For the ideological, there are those who will see the death of the holy father as a bump on the road for the radicals within the Church. In truth, the real and genuine message of Jesus rises well beyond ideology. The world awaits a new pope, and prayerfully soon.”

‘A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES’

Also, the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria described the late Pope Francis as the man who served the Church with
humility, courage, and a deep love for the poor and the excluded.

In a statement issued on Monday by Michael Banjo, the secretary-general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), the Catholic Secretariat said Pope Francis was a tireless advocate for migrants and refugees.

The CBCN said he promoted a more synodal Church rooted in listening and shared responsibility and called for a culture of kindness and human fraternity.

“He also advanced interreligious dialogue, fostering peace and mutual understanding among peoples
of different faiths,” the statement reads.

“His return to the Lord in this sacred season offers us a consoling reminder of the Christian hope in the resurrection and the promise of eternal life.”