Willie Obiano, the former governor of Anambra State, has expressed his sorrow at Pope Francis’s death.
In a statement, Obiano remembered an encounter his family had with Pope Francis, at Vatican, on January 15, 2020. On the day of his investiture into the Papal Knighthood, Obiano, a knight of the Pontifical Order of St. Gregory the Great, called it a revelation.
“It was a revelation. You expect such a global spiritual leader to be distant, but he was so approachable, so real,” he said.
Obiano said he and his family stayed at Domus Sanctae Marthae, Saint Martha’s house, where Pope Francis chose to live instead of the apostolic palace.
“Chukwudifu, then an adolescent, excitedly took a selfie with the Pope, a spontaneous gesture that could have been frowned upon in more formal settings. But Pope Francis, true to his character, smiled and indulged the boy.
“That’s who he was. A pontiff who walked the talk, who preached simplicity and lived it,” he narrated.
He further disclosed that the Late Pope presented his family with gifts and gave his wife a rosary.
“After the investiture, Pope Francis presented the family with personal gifts — rosaries for my wife, Ebelechukwu; daughter, Dr. Gechi; and young Chukwudifu.
“For me, the Pope removed his white skullcap, the papal zucchetto, and handed it over.
“It was a gesture so rare, so deeply moving, that I encased it in a special glass display on our family altar. Not just to preserve it from dust, but to constantly remind us of the humility and grace of the man who gave it,” he stated.
“In the pope, we saw the face of Christ. And in his memory, we must live out what he stood for,” he added.
Live with Purpose, Love with Passion. Remember to be happy
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Rose Ajieh