Peter Obi visits Rome to pay final respect to late Pope Francis

The 2023 presidential candidate for the Labour Party, Peter Obi on Wednesday announced that he visited Rome to pay his final respect to the late Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis.

In a post made on X, Obi said he joined Francis Cardinal Arinze and other global dignitaries and mourners at St. Peter’s Basilica.

Obi in the post titled, “Legacy of Light: What Pope Francis Taught the World” said the lying-in-state ceremony of the Pope was a moment of deep reflection.

He wrote, “Pope Francis was more than a Pontiff; he was a moral light in a world darkened by inequality and indifference. His life was a testament to leadership as a sacred duty, one rooted in compassion, truth, and service to the poor and marginalised. He lived for others, spoke for the voiceless, and reminded us all that leadership must be about lifting others, not self-exaltation.

“I came to truly appreciate what he stood for after my appointment as a member of Scholars Occultantes – an international circle of thinkers he founded during his time as Archbishop,” he said.

He added that the organisation has been dedicated to truth, ethical leadership and social justice.

According to Obi, his meeting with the late Pope before his passing was a blessing to him and had lasting impressions on him.

“He radiated peace and inspired faith, and his presence was a quiet yet powerful reminder of the divine responsibility that leadership entails. His humility was infectious, his vision deeply human.

“As we mourn this great soul, I urge political, religious, and community leaders, especially across Africa, to reflect on his life and commit to the values he upheld: justice, peace, and human dignity. Let this moment not just be one of mourning, but a call to lead with conscience, walk with the people and govern with love,” Obi wrote.