Vatican City: On April 21, the Holy See, the central governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City State, announced the death of Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff. The demise of the pontiff followed bouts of respiratory illnesses, pneumonia in both lungs, among other complications; he has been hospitalized intermittently in the past four years.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, announced, "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7.35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was devoted to service to the Lord and His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God."
Pope Francis, aged 88, was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Dec. 17, 1936; a son of Italian immigrants. Originally known as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he was the first Pope of the Americas and also the first Jesuit Pope. He was ordained a Catholic priest on Dec. 13, 1969, by Archbishop Ram³n Jos© Castellano of C³rdoba.
On May 20, 1992, Pope John Paul II appointed him titular Bishop of Auca and Auxiliary of Buenos Aires; on May 27, he received episcopal ordination from the Cardinal in the cathedral. He was elected Supreme Pontiff on March 13, 2013, replacing the retiring Pope Benedict XVI.
The news of the exit of the Catholic pontiff threw Catholics and non-Catholics into mourning as tributes and grief poured in torrents from around the world. For the benefit of hindsight, Pope Francis wanted a deviation from the traditional papacy and sought to introduce radical reforms in the deeply conservative Catholic Church; he had, however, always met a brick wall in Vatican's bureaucracy, the Roman Curia.
He was a social justice and climate change advocate and promoted interfaith dialogue in his desire to open up the Catholic Church and embrace modernism. In his 12-year papacy, Francis, against all odds, implemented significant reforms, including overhauling Vatican finances, updating liturgical books, and simplifying papal funeral rites.
The deceased pontiff had a more accommodating tone towards the LGBTQ+ community and upbraided laws that criminalized homosexuality; he was also an advocate for migrants and refugees. Francis had been participating in public events from a wheelchair due to a severe knee condition and had to cancel many regular prayers, audiences, and services in recent months.
In his last public appearance, Francis appeared briefly on the balcony in front of thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square on Sunday to deliver an Easter blessing. In spite of his ill health, the pope completed a 12-day trip to Asia and the Pacific in the first half of September and a visit to Luxembourg and Belgium later the same month.
In Nigeria, President Bola joined world leaders in pouring in encomiums for the late pontiff. Tinubu personally penned a passionate tribute. The president described Francis as a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions.
The president said the passing of the pontiff, coming just after the celebration of Christ's Resurrection, was a sacred return to his Maker at a time of renewed hope for Christians. "His Holiness served the Church and the Master of the Church until the end; in 2013, he stepped onto the global stage with a message of mercy, urging us to see the face of Christ in the marginalized, the refugees, the migrants, and the forgotten."
U.S. President, Donald Trump in his message wrote, "Rest in Peace Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!" UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said that Pope' leadership in a complex and challenging time for the world and the church was courageous, yet always came from a place of deep humility.
On his part, French President, Emmanuel Macron, paid an avid tribute for Francis. "From Buenos Aires to Rome, Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest; to unite people with one another and with nature; may this hope be reborn endlessly beyond him."
Sharing an episcopal sentiment, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Ignatius Kaigama, described the passing of Francis on Easter Monday as the fall of "a mighty Iroko". He said it was a loss that resonated across the world.
Kaigama urged Catholic faithful in Abuja and Nigeria to pray for the eternal repose of Pope Francis, emphasizing the need for unity and hope as the Church entered a period of transition. He also spoke on his expectations for a new Pope.
The pontiff, had in 2015, declared his desire to be buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a fifth-century church in Rome dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. As the Conclave convenes within 15 to 20 days after the death of Francis, the world waits and watches in awe for the emergence of a new Pope.