Pope Francis, Bishop Martins Extend Blessings, Support to Nigerians Amid Challenges

*Kii identifies corruption, persecution, trans-valuation, as threats to values

*Says 27,954 Nigerian Christians killed and abducted in last 14 years

Sunday Ehigiator

In commemoration of the 16th Annual National Conference of the Association of Papal Knights and Medalists in Nigeria (APKMN), themed, ‘Living an Authentic Catholic Life: Challenges and Opportunities in Nigeria’, the Head of Catholic Church and Sovereign of the Vatican City State, Pope Francis, and the Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins have felicitated and extended their blessings to all Nigerian Catholics and Papal Knights across Nigeria, amidst challenges currently facing the country.

This was just as the Judicial Vicar of the Catholic Church of Port Harcourt, Very Reverend Monsignor (Msgr) Pius Barinaadaa Kii, highlighted corruption, persecution, trans-valuation, as a threat to Nigeria’s Catholic values.
He also revealed that over 16,769 Nigerian Christians have been killed, and 11,185 others abducted in the last 14 years.
A goodwill message signed by the Secretary of State to His Holiness, Pope Francis, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, addressed to the APKMN National conference, yesterday, read: “His Holiness prays that the occasion will encourage the participants to renew their commitment to being joyful disciples of Christ who are formed by him and sent out on mission in response to the challenges and opportunities present within contemporary Nigerian society.
“It is likewise his hope that through your example of bearing witness to the gospel, your fellow citizens will encounter the love of Jesus that has the power to transform hearts and thus build up the kingdom of God.

“With these sentiments, the Holy Father willingly imparts his blessing as a pledge of wisdom, strength, and joy in the world.”
In his goodwill address, Rev. Martins said the theme of the event “speaks directly to the heart of our shared mission as disciples of Christ. In an era marked by complexities, many different churches that make doctrines and morals uncertain, your gathering gives us a reason to hope, illuminating a path forward and offering an assurance of the preservation of our faith, doctrines and traditions.
“Your conference coincides with a pivotal moment in our nation’s history, where the witness of authentic Catholic living can profoundly impact the social, political, cultural, and spiritual aspects of our lives.

“I encourage you to draw upon the rich traditions of our faith, embracing the challenges and opportunities before us with courage, resilience, and unwavering dedication bearing in mind that evangelization is not just about preaching, it is about living the Gospel.
“As you assemble to share experiences, address challenges, and explore opportunities, may your deliberations be illuminated by the divine guidance of the Holy Spirit, inspiring renewed commitment to the values of compassion, justice, and selfless-service.”
Earlier in his keynote address, Kii said, “It means simply living a life of intimacy with God and continually nourishing that relationship and that intimacy through prayer, the sacraments and scripture.”
According to him, Nigeria is facing numerous challenges, and its citizens are all too familiar with the problems plaguing the country. “We are living in darkness, surrounded by evil, suffering, violence, and corruption. The poor continue to struggle while the rich accumulate wealth, and the system seems designed to benefit politicians alone.”

“This oppressive system cannot be changed without collective action. Living an authentic Catholic life in Nigeria is particularly challenging due to divergent cultures, societal pressures, persecution, and violence. Catholics face threats from extremist groups, with 16,769 Christians killed and 11,185 abducted between 2009 and 2023.

“The politicisation of religion and Pentecostalism also pose significant challenges. Some Christian leaders use faith for personal gain, hiding their Christian identity after elections. Corruption and moral decay are pervasive, leading to a trans-valuation of values” where good is called bad and bad is called good.

“To combat these issues, Nigerians must come together to reclaim their values and promote authentic Christian living. This requires a collective desire for change and a commitment to upholding Catholic principles. By working together, Nigerians can overcome the darkness surrounding them and build a brighter future.”

Also speaking, the President, APKMN, Lagos Province, Olasupo Adigun noted that, “As Papal Honorees, the challenges and opportunities are endless in order to promote a better society.

“Our National Chaplain, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Adegbola aptly put this in a paper he presented at last year’s conference in Kano thus: ‘We live in times of uncertainty and dangers. We do not know what to expect in the next second, minute, hour, tomorrow, next week, next month and next year…our system has become extremely oppressive and dishonest.’

“It is our hope that by the end of this conference sufficient knowledge would have been shared to obviate these challenges and energise us for better personal and communal living.”