CAN mourns Pope Benedict XVI

CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, on Saturday in Abuja in a statement he personally signed described the late Pope Benedict XVI as a great theologian whose life epitomised the balance of faith, reason and works in ways that positively influenced both Catholics and non-Catholics throughout the world.

“He had devoted his soul and intelligence to God for a more fraternal world and had died in the Mater Ecclesiae monastery, a house dedicated to prayer and self-sacrifice within the walls of the Vatican Gardens.

“CAN pays tribute to Pope Benedict XVI who spent his days at the service of the Church, speaking to the hearts and minds of men with the spiritual, cultural and intellectual depth he possessed,” Okoh said.

He lamented that it will be difficult to fill the shoes of untiring efforts to find a common path in promoting peace and goodwill throughout the world which Pope Benedict XVI left behind, but prayed that God will continue to raise theologians like the late Pontiff who are committed to the defence of Christian faith.

He said, “CAN extends its condolences to his relatives, the Vatican, the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria and the faithful in Nigeria and the rest of the world over this great loss.”