By Chinenye Dike
The Catholic Diocese of Enugu on 22nd April, 2025 paid its last respects to Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025, with a Requiem Mass. The Mass, presided over by the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga, drew a large gathering of Catholic faithful, priests, and religious leaders. Also present at the mass was the Auxiliary Bishop, Most Rev. Ernest Obodo, Very Rev. Fr. Wilfred Agubuchie and a host priests and religious.
During his homily, Bishop Onaga reflected on the passing of Pope Francis, describing it as a shocking yet unsurprising reminder of the inevitability of death. He highlighted Pope Francis’s dedication to preaching and sensitizing the world about the victory over death, noting that the Pope’s own death was a testament to the fulfillment of his teachings.
Bishop Onaga celebrated Pope Francis’s life, describing him as a man of humility who revolutionized the Church. He noted that Pope Francis was the first Jesuit Pope, the first Pope to visit a Muslim country, and the first to address the G7 summit, where he warned about the dangers of artificial intelligence.
The Bishop described Pope Francis as the “people’s Pope,” a shepherd close to his flock, and a pastor who advised Bishops to be close to their people. He prayed that Pope Francis’s legacy would be remembered and that God would grant him eternal rest.
The Requiem Mass was a fitting tribute to Pope Francis’s life and legacy, with the Catholic faithful in Enugu coming together to pay their last respects to the beloved Pope.
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