NEWS LEVERAGE

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said poverty is not a crime, citing the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, who had only 100 dollars as his earthly possession.

“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 message is very clear that Nigerians should love one another and that poverty is not a crime. It could sometimes be a virtue of God and whatever you have, you should be able to share with your brothers and sisters.”

Akpabio, who spoke to Nigerians from the Vatican while representing the country in the burial of His Holiness Pope Francis on Saturday, said 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.

He called on Nigerians to love themselves, emulate the late Pontiff and let love transcend through individuals, especially with the just concluded Easter celebration which coincided with the Sallah.

“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.”

Over 100 world leaders, including President Donald Trump of the United States, and Volodymyr Zelensky, were in the Vatican City for the burial of Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88 after some health issues on Easter Monday.