Nigeria 'll be great — PONTIF
Feb 20, 2007
Catholic Pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI yesterday hailed Nigeria’s acceptance of Christian evangelism saying the country had the potentials and ability to provide leadership in the much needed missionaries of the world.
(Vanguard, February 20, 2007) ENUGU — The Pope observed that even in the face of scarce resources, the people had lived in unity and had gone about their services with little or no reward, stressing that with such selfless spirit, the country was capable of providing leadership to the world.
In a homily delivered in Enugu during a concelebrated High Mass by the Vatican’s Director of Evangelism, Ivan Cardinal Dias at the 25th anniversary of the visit of the late Pope John Paul II to Nigeria, however, challenged Nigerians to be “steadfast and trust in God always”.
According to him, most countries of the world had undergone various transformations but stated that such transformations had been positive depending on how well and meticulous the people had devoted themselves to it.
He said he was confident that Nigeria would be “great” going by the fact that the biggest seminary in the world, The Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu is located in Nigeria, adding that Nigeria would soon be in a position of being the major provider of the much needed missionaries for evangelical work throughout the world.
He urged Nigerians particularly the people of the Eastern region not to relent in their belief and worship of God and imbibe the habit of loving one another no matter the circumstance. He added that it was vital for any progress in life and development.
The Catholic Pontiff paid tribute to the Former Bishop of Enugu, Late Bishop Godfrey Mary Okoye who founded the Daughters of Divine Love, an organization evangelizing in every nook and cranny of the world, stressing that the contribution of the Centre had impacted positively to the world.
The acceptance of the message of Christianity by the people of the region, he said, had put them in the forefront of spreading the message not only in Nigeria but also in the whole world.
The Pope further recognized the potentials of the people of the region in the affinity to vocations and urged them to continue in that direction as they would in no distant future reap from their sweat.
Nigeria 'll be great — PONTIF