Abuja, March 14, 2013
On behalf of Christians in Nigeria, I, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) congratulates His Holiness, Pope Francis 1 as the first Pope from Latin America to ascend the chair of papacy, just as I do to the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) and people of Catholic faith all over the world.
I share in the joy of a Latin American Pope with the hope that a Nigerian Pope will, by this feat, emerge among the Cardinals we presently have in Nigeria.
Going through his biography, I believe that as a doctrinal conservative and a man after social justice, Pope Francis 1 is coming into the papacy with distinctive spiritual charisma, one that is based on positive interfaith and intercultural dialogue and a desire to serve the Catholic community worldwide in order to gain God’s good pleasure.
I pray that he strives to make the Cardinals who elected him and, indeed, the millions of people who believe in his ideas feel the message of faith in God. I also pray that the Pope should, in his speeches and actions, envision a new dawn in which Christians all over the world shall witness the birth of spiritual dynamism that will revitalize dormant moral values, an age of tolerance, understanding and international cooperation that will, ultimately lead to a single inclusive civilization.
May the beginning of your ascension become the sign and instrument of reconciliation, justice and peace that would bring forth joy, hope, peace and harmony in the world.
Amen.
God bless Nigeria.
Kenny Ashaka
Special Assistant, Media and Public Affair to the President of CAN
