By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
Pope Francis Benedict prayed for Nigeria as the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC, paid him a visit at the Vatican in Rome during the debut of the 2022 Special Pilgrimage organized by the Commission.
The Pontiff received the Nigerian flag from the Nigerian pilgrims and prayed for peace and progress of Nigeria.
He also prayed for those who lost their lives in the flood incident in Nigeria.
This is contained in a press release signed by Celestine Toruka Deputy Director/ Head Media & Public Relations made available to Daybreak today.
The Nigerian Pilgrims were led to the papal audience at the Vatican City by his Grace, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, among other high-profile personalities.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev. Dr. Yakuba Pam described the audience with the pope as spiritually fulfilling.
He also commended the Pilgrims for their good conduct during the special pilgrimage to Rome even though there were some inadequacies, noting that the pilgrims were unable to visit Israel due to operational reasons.
However, the NCPC Boss has assured the pilgrims, especially the self-sponsored ones that the Commission would come up with a mechanism to accommodate them in the next pilgrimage exercise.
The President of the Baptist Convention, Rev. Dr. Israel Akanji who was one of the Pilgrims described the Papal audience as awesome as well as having a special effect on Nigeria as a nation and her people.
Rev. Akanji said, “the fact that the Pope prayed for Nigeria and her people signifies a new beginning for the country.”
Furthermore, General Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Barr. Daramola Bade also affirmed that the Papal audience was the best thing that help the pilgrims, as he expressed happiness for personally handing over the Nigerian flag to Pope Francis.
He thanked the Commission for providing the platform to meet his Holiness Pope Francis.
The Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Religion,(Christian) very Rev. Bukola Adeleke explained that the number of Holy sites visited during the special pilgrimage to Rome to sites like St. John Basilica, the Basilica of Mary and other important Holy sites is worth the while.
He commended the efforts of NCPC in putting the Special Pilgrimage together, and prayed that future special pilgrimage to Rome should be improved upon by the Commission.
Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Barrister Nestor Ezeme expressed joy that the 2022 Special Pilgrimage to Rome has given him a rare opportunity to meet the Pope physically, describing the Papal visit as a lifetime privilege.
He promised to encourage his other colleagues in other states to see the need to embark on a Special Pilgrimage to Rome with their pilgrims, considering its attendant blessings.
Ezeme particularly thanked the NCPC Boss for making sure that the special Pilgrimage to Rome was a reality despite all odds, and lauded the NCPC for providing decent accommodation for the pilgrims.
About 112 pilgrims participated in the NCPC 2022 special pilgrimage to Rome, made up of self sponsored pilgrims, Lagos and Enugu Pilgrims as well as some high-profile personalities which include both the Deputy Governor of Enugu and Nasarawa State as well as some first class traditional rulers.
