Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, traveled to Vatican City on Wednesday, where he joined other international dignitaries to pay his last respects to Pope Francis, the late Head of the Catholic Church.
Obi, who holds the title of Papal Knight, stood beside Nigeria’s Cardinal Francis Arinze, aged 93, during the solemn ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The event brought together thousands of mourners from all over the world, united in grief and respect for a spiritual leader who had touched lives across continents.
“Today, I joined Francis Cardinal Arinze, global dignitaries, and thousands of mourners at St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome, to pay my final respects to His Holiness, Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21,” Obi wrote in a statement shared after the ceremony.
He described the atmosphere at the lying-in-state as deeply moving and reflective. According to Obi, the gathering was more than just a farewell—it was a moment to look inward and remember the values that Pope Francis represented.
“Pope Francis was more than a Pontiff; he was a moral light in a world darkened by inequality and indifference…” he continued.
Obi also shared personal reflections from his interactions with the late Pontiff. He noted how being part of the Scholars Occultantes, a group formed by Pope Francis during his time as Archbishop, allowed him to understand more about the Pope’s drive for truth and ethical leadership.
He said their meetings—three in total—left a strong impact on him, and each encounter brought home the Pope’s quiet power and humility.
“He radiated peace and inspired faith, and his presence was a quiet yet powerful reminder of the divine responsibility that leadership entails,” Obi noted.
He called on leaders across Africa to see this moment not only as a time for mourning but as a chance to adopt the principles the Pope lived by—compassion, justice, and dignity for all.
“May Pope Francis’ soul rest in perfect peace, and may his legacy live on in all who seek to serve humanity selflessly,” Obi concluded.
