Akpabio To Nigerians: Emulate Pope Francis, Poverty Is Not A Crime
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio has said that poverty is not a crime as it could sometimes be a virtue of God and urged Nigerians to emulate the late Pope Francis, whose wealth was just about $100.
Akpabio, who stated this at the Vatican when he led the Nigerian delegation to the burial of His Holiness, Pope Francis on Saturday, noted that the late leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, had only 100 dollars as his earthly possession.
He said; “As a Pope, the man who died was worth only 100 dollars, showing that you cannot worship God in splendour and the best way to worship God is through self-sacrifice for others”.
The Senate President said that the message indicates that Nigerians should love one another and that poverty is not a crime.
He further said; “It could sometimes be a virtue of God and whatever you have, you should be able to share with your brothers and sisters”.
Akpabio further said that no one can worship God in splendour and cited that even being the Head of the Roman Catholic Church with over 1.5 billion members, the Pontiff lived a peaceful life devoid of splendour.
Akpabio tasked Nigerians to emulate the late Pontiff and let love transcend through individuals, especially with the just concluded Easter celebration which coincided with the Sallah.
According to him; “It was not just a great event but it was an event that shook the world. When you look at the Catholic Church, the Catholic Church is not just a Church. The Vatican is also regarded as a State.
“You have the head of State who was buried today. You have a pontiff that headed his flock all over the world with over 1.5bn in number.
“And above all, in this period that Easter just ended which coincided with the Sallah, love should transcend through all for God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son to come and die to relieve mankind,” he enthused.
Over 100 world leaders attended the Vatican City for the burial of Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88 following complications from some health issues on Easter Monday.
