The 2023 Labour Party Presidential candidate and former governor of Anambra State Peter Obi has joined millions of Catholic faithful in mourning and paying last respect to late Pope Francis.

Pope Francis has died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta.

Pope Francis died of a stroke followed by a coma and heart failure on Monday morning, the Vatican’s press office said in a statement.

Obi described the late pope as a “man who embodied humility, simplicity, and selfless service.”

According to his post on Wednesday afternoon on X: “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.”

The politician had posted three pictures of his meetings with the late pope on different occasion when he paid tribute to him on Monday, revealing that he was founder of “an international circle of thinkers he founded during his time as Archbishop.

He continued“The organisation, dedicated to truth, ethical leadership, and social transformation, gave me a deeper insight into the intellectual and moral force behind his teachings.

“I was blessed to meet Pope Francis on three occasions. Each encounter left a lasting impression. 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.

May Pope Francis’ soul rest in perfect peace, and may his legacy live on in all who seek to serve humanity selflessly.” Obi prayed

The pope was hospitalised for five weeks in February-March, initially suffering from a severe respiratory insufficiency from viral and bacterial infections. He had often struggled with bronchitis during winter.

He was subsequently diagnosed with a polymicrobial infection, which evolved to pneumonia in both lungs. Francis came close to death during his hospitalisation, according to his medical team.

On April 17, Holy Thursday, a significant day in the Catholic calendar commemorating the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, Francis visited Rome’s Regina Coeli, where he met with some 70 inmates.

In past years, he had washed the feet of prisoners, echoing Jesus’s gesture with his disciples on the eve of his death. This time, however, the Vatican said he apologised for being unable to perform the ritual. Instead, he offered them rosaries and pocket-sized Gospels as gifts.

Four days later,he received United States Vice President JD Vance at his residence, It was the pope’s last diplomatic meeting.

Later that day, he delivered the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing, Latin for “to the city and the world”, before thousands of Catholic pilgrims gathered in St Peter’s Square for the Vatican’s open-air Easter Sunday Mass.

During this time, the pope condemned the “deplorable humanitarian situation” caused by Israel’s 18 months of war on the Palestinian territory. He also called for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Then, to everyone’s surprise, he made his way down to Saint Peter’s Square, riding through the crowds in the open-top Popemobile – the iconic white Mercedes-Benz used by popes to greet the faithful.

Near the end of his final tour of the square, several children were lifted towards him.

It would be the last time the world saw him alive. He died the next morning.

By: Adeoye Olorunseun Elizabeth