Peter Obi In St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome, With Cardinal Francis Arinze, To Pay Final Respects To His Holiness, Pope Francis

<h4>Peter Obi<&sol;h4>&NewLine;<p><strong><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;openlife&period;ng&sol;">OpenLife Nigeria<&sol;a><&sol;strong> reports that Mr&period;Peter Obi&comma; the Labour Party&comma; LP&comma; presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections is currently in St&period; Peter’s Basilica&comma; Rome&comma; with Cardinal Francis Arinze to pay final respects to His Holiness&comma; Pope Francis&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Pope Francis was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 2013&period;<br &sol;>&NewLine;He died on April 21&comma; 2025 at age 88&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Making the revelation on Wednesday afternoon&comma; Obi wrote on his Facebook wall&colon;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>Today&comma; I joined Francis Cardinal Arinze&comma; global dignitaries&comma; and thousands of mourners at St&period; Peter’s Basilica&comma; Rome&comma; to pay my final respects to His Holiness&comma; Pope Francis&comma; who passed away on April 21&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong> The solemn lying-in-state ceremony was a moment of deep reflection&comma; as the world bids farewell to a man who embodied humility&comma; simplicity&comma; and selfless service&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>Pope Francis was more than a Pontiff&semi; he was a moral light in a world darkened by inequality and indifference&period; <&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>His life was a testament to leadership as a sacred duty&comma; one rooted in compassion&comma; truth&comma; and service to the poor and marginalised&period; He lived for others&comma; spoke for the voiceless&comma; and reminded us all that leadership must be about lifting others&comma; not self-exaltation&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>I came to truly appreciate what he stood for after my appointment as a member of Scholars Occultantes &&num;8211&semi; an international circle of thinkers he founded during his time as Archbishop&period; <&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>The organisation&comma; dedicated to truth&comma; ethical leadership&comma; and social transformation&comma; gave me a deeper insight into the intellectual and moral force behind his teachings&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>I was blessed to meet Pope Francis on three occasions&period; Each encounter left a lasting impression&period; He radiated peace and inspired faith&comma; and his presence was a quiet yet powerful reminder of the divine responsibility that leadership entails&period; His humility was infectious&comma; his vision deeply human&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>As we mourn this great soul&comma; I urge political&comma; religious&comma; and community leaders&comma; especially across <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;mirror&period;co&period;uk&sol;">Africa<&sol;a>&comma; to reflect on his life and commit to the values he upheld&colon; justice&comma; peace&comma; and human dignity&period; <&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>Let this moment not just be one of mourning&comma; but a call to lead with conscience&comma; walk with the people&comma; and govern with love&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>May Pope Francis’ soul rest in perfect peace&comma; and may his legacy live on in all who seek to serve humanity selflessly&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><br &sol;>&NewLine;<em><strong>&&num;8211&semi; PO<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&nbsp&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;