Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has joined Christians worldwide in mourning the death of Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, who passed away on Easter Monday.
In a statement by his media aide, Garba Shehu, the former president expressed deep sorrow over the loss of a leader who championed the cause of the poor, migrants, and refugees.
Reacting to the news, Buhari said, “Christians in Nigeria and all over the world will miss the exemplary leadership of the Church by a Pope who served the poor and the weak, and cared much about migrants and refugees.”
He highlighted Pope Francis’s efforts to foster peace between Islam and Christianity, noting, “He was a Pope who strove to build a beneficial, complementary relationship between the followers of the world’s two greatest religions—Islam and Christianity.”
The former president also recalled the pope’s final days, emphasizing his call for peace in conflict zones.
“Just hours before his demise, he made a call for an end to the war in Gaza. I hope Israel and Hamas will heed this call as a final respect to the Pope who had the distinction of bringing climate change to the Vatican and recognizing the Palestinian State,” Buhari said.
He concluded by expressing hope for a successor who would continue Pope Francis’s inspiring legacy of compassion and reform.
Pope Francis was widely recognized for his dedication to the marginalized and his progressive stance on social issues, leaving a profound impact on the global Catholic community and beyond.
