NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Pope Francis: A mighty Iroko has fallen – Kaigama

Pope Francis: A mighty Iroko has fallen – Kaigama

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By Philomina Attah

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Ignatius Kaigama, has described the passing of Pope Francis on Easter Monday as the fall of “a mighty Iroko”.

He said it was a loss that resonated across the world.

Kaigama, in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, reflected on the Pope’s profound spiritual and pastoral legacy.

“He showed us the face of Jesus Christ, the face of mercy, the face of love.

“A great man, very great, in our local parlance, I will say a mighty Iroko has fallen; it shakes the whole world; the whole world is mourning,

“Christians and non-Christians and for all of us, it is a passing away of a great one; his legacies are many, uncountable.

“He traveled through the whole world, pronouncing and showing love and mercy.

“He was a very humane Pope and very attentive to the needs of the ordinary person.

“So, he will be remembered for this; like Jesus Christ, he touched those who are sick; he identified with the prisoners, those who are dismissed by the society.

“So, he was a very humane Pope and very attentive to the needs of the ordinary person.’’

Kaigama urged Catholic faithful in Abuja and Nigeria to pray for the eternal repose of Pope Francis, emphasising the need for unity and hope as the Church entered a period of transition.

He also spoke on his expectations for a new Pope.

We want a good pope, a holy pope, a pope that is there for the people; wherever he comes from and whoever he is does not matter.

“We just pray that God will give us a good pope, a holy pope, a pope that will lead the flock unto salvation.”

According to him, during this interregnum, the Vatican’s Camerlengo oversees daily affairs, but no major decisions are made until a new pope is elected.

“A camerlengo, a chamberlain, oversees the activities of the Catholic Church for now; his task is to oversee the practical running of the Vatican for now.

“But as for the church, no major decisions are taken; we just wait; when the cardinals assemble and a new pope is elected, then life continues.

“So, we can say we are on hold for now; but the church still keeps moving,’’ he said.

Kaigama called on the faithful to intensify their prayers, trusting the Holy Spirit to guide the Church through the challenging moment.

Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Catholic Church and the first from Latin America, passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, at the age of 88 in his Vatican residence, Casa Santa Marta.

His death was officially announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, at 9:45 AM, following a period of declining health after a severe bout of pneumonia.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Francis was elected pope on March 13, 2013, succeeding Pope Benedict XVI.

His 12-year papacy was marked by humility, a focus on the marginalised, and a drive for reform within the Church.

Francis championed social justice, environmental protection most notably through his encyclical “Laudato Si” and interfaith dialogue, seeking to make the Church more inclusive and responsive to modern challenges.

Throughout his tenure, Pope Francis implemented significant reforms, including overhauling Vatican finances, updating liturgical books, and simplifying papal funeral rites.

He was also known for his outreach to the LGBTQ+ community and his advocacy for migrants and refugees.(NAN)

Edited by Abdulfatai Beki and Chijioke Okoronkwo

Catholic TV migrates to GOtv on Ash Wednesday

Catholic TV migrates to GOtv on Ash Wednesday

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By Okon Okon

The Catholic Television of Nigeria (CTV) has announced its migration to the GOtv platform, beginning on Ash Wednesday, March 5.

Rev. Fr. Patrick Alumuku, CTV Director of Communications for the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, made this announcement at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

Alumuku described the move as a milestone in the station’s journey, which began in 2009 with an initiative by Chief Raymond Dokpesi to provide the Catholic Church with a 24-hour broadcast channel.

“Though the initial plan to launch CTV on DAARSAT did not materialise, the station persevered, utilising Africa Independent Television (AIT) for its programming.

“CTV officially commenced operations on 1 January 2010 with a 15-minute devotional programme, A Light for the Nation, which continues to air on AIT.

“The station expanded its presence in 2017, launching a 24-hour test transmission on NigComSat and later joining the OUR TV platform in 2018”.

He said the migration to GOtv would enhance CTV’s reach, making Catholic content more accessible to households across Nigeria.

According to the CTV director, this transition is a step towards establishing a broader presence on multiple platforms, including DSTV and Startimes.

“CTV, owned by the Catholic Church in Nigeria, envisions setting up production centres in every diocese, with existing centres already in Makurdi, Jos, Kaduna, and Kano.

“The station aims to provide faith-based programming while addressing national and international issues from a Catholic perspective”.

He added that CTV management had urged Catholics and business owners to support the channel’s growth through programme sponsorships, equipment donations, and advertising partnerships.

“The success of this channel depends on the participation of all Catholics.

“We invite everyone to join in this joyful migration to GOtv and contribute to sustaining this evangelisation project,” he said.

The CTV director also advised Nigerian media outlets to verify their sources before reporting, to prevent misinformation and embarrassment within the industry.

He cited the example of a false report about Pope Francis’ death, which spread widely in some media but was later debunked as fake news.

“In our Catholic media platform, we reach out to Rome to get the accurate status of the Pope’s health, rather than relying on unverified information from Nigeria,” he said.

He urged Nigerian media to uphold this standard for responsible and accurate reporting. (NAN) (www.nanews.ng)

Edited by Deji Abdulwahab

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