By Chuks Eke
It was all tributes and encomium from all works of life for Cardinal Francis Arinze, former Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of Sacraments in the Vatican City, for attaining his 90 years of age.
The tributes and encomium which started pouring in since November 1, 2022 when Cardinal Arinze clocked 90 years, emanated from various individuals and groups, clergies and laities, academic and the political class.
Among those who have so far felicitated him were the Pontiff, Pope Francis who declared: “To His Eminence, Francis Cardinal Arinze, on the day of his 90th Birthday, I offer sincere good wishes and, remembering his long and faithful service, to the Gospel and to the Holy See, I invoke on him, by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, abundant heavenly consolations, while from my heart, I impart to him my Blessing, which I freely extend to all the persons dear to him”.
Others were former Governors of Anambra state, Senator Chris Ngige, Peter Obi and Willie Obiano, Senators Annie Okonkwo and Victor Umeh; the traditional ruler of Eziowelle community in Udemili North Local Government Area of Anambra state, home town if Cardinal Arinze, Igwe Mike Okonkwo-Etusi, among others.
During a Eucharistic Mass on Thursday at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha, no fewer that 30 Bishops, Archbishops and Cardinals, including Cardinal John Onaiyekan and Cardinal Peter Okpaleke were present.
Also in a book entitled: Snippets of Wisdom, Echoes from Francis Cardinal Arinze”, edited by Rev. Fr. Anthony Chinedu Ezeugo, Arinze is said to be renowned for his simplicity in speech, in action and in life, making efforts to avoid so-called high theology or any form of theological acrobatics.
In his speech, Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra state and his predecessors, Peter Obi and Willie Obiano yesterday felicitated Cardinal Francis Arinze, former Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments in the Vatican City, for attaining 90 years of age.
Also the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe; former National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Senator Victor Umeh and Dr. A. B. C. Orjiako described Cardinal Arinze as a gift of God to the church in Nigeria and Africa.
Soludo, Obi, Obiano, Umeh and Obi of Onitsha prayed God to give Cardinal Arinze many more years of life and good health.
Specifically, Soludo prayed God to extend Cardinal Arinze as life span to 150 years with good health and urged other priests to emulate an exemplary manner of the Cardinal.
In his brief remarks, the chief host and Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha Catholic Archdiocese, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Valerian Maduka Okeke thanked God the the great Cardinal Arinze is from the Archdiocese.
Bishop Denis Isizoh, the Auxiliary Bishop of Onitsha Diocese, who served Cardinal Arinze as Secretary in in the Vatican City, said he tapped so much from Arinze’s wealth of experience, adding that Arinze lived a holy life.
Responding, Cardinal Arinze thanked the participants for finding time to grace his 90th birthday ceremony and reminded them that in the the next 10 years when he would click 100 years, they would all gather like this and thank God, if he is still alive
