Peter Obi Pays Tribute to Late Pope Francis at Vatican Lying-in-State Ceremony.

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Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, joined world leaders in Vatican City for the solemn lying-in-state of Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21. 

A devoted Catholic and Papal Knight, Obi stood beside 93-year-old Cardinal Francis Arinze, one of Nigeria’s most revered religious figures, as they paid their final respects at St. Peter’s Basilica.

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The ceremony drew dignitaries from across the globe, united in mourning the life and legacy of a Pontiff whose message of humility and justice resonated far beyond the Catholic world.

Obi took to his social media platform X to pen a poignant tribute titled “Legacy of Light: What Pope Francis Taught the World.” In it, he reflected on the Pope’s unwavering commitment to compassion, simplicity, and moral leadership.

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“Today, I joined Cardinal Arinze, global dignitaries, and thousands of mourners to say farewell to Pope Francis,” Obi wrote. “The ceremony was a moment of deep reflection for a man who embodied humility, simplicity, and selfless service.”

He described Pope Francis as a beacon of hope in a world increasingly marred by inequality and indifference, emphasizing how the late Pontiff’s leadership had profoundly influenced him.

 Recalling personal encounters with the Pope, Obi said those moments deepened his belief in ethical leadership and the urgent need for societal transformation.

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He called on African political, religious, and community leaders to emulate the values Pope Francis lived by—justice, peace, human dignity, and love-driven governance. Obi urged leaders to reject self-interest in favor of service to humanity.

Concluding his tribute, Obi prayed for Pope Francis’s eternal peace and expressed a fervent hope that the late Pontiff’s legacy would continue to inspire generations to come.

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