‘Do Not Forget This’: Pope Francis’ Final Message to Nigeria

By Emmanuel Kwada

Pope Francis delivered what would be his final public act: a moving address to Rome’s Nigerian community during an audience at the Vatican.

Pope Francis during the meeting   (Vatican Media)

Reported by Vatican News on March 25, 2024, in an article by Joseph Tulloch titled “Pope to Rome’s Nigerian Community: Embrace Unity, Reject Division,” the Pope praised Nigeria’s diversity, declaring, “The diversity of ethnicities, cultural traditions, and languages in your nation is not a problem, but a gift that enriches the fabric of the Church as well as that of the entire society, and allows for the promotion of the values of mutual understanding and coexistence.”

Embrace Unity, Reject Division,” the Pope praised Nigeria’s diversity

In his final address, he spoke with urgency about Nigeria’s challenges, noting, “Unfortunately, many regions of the world are experiencing conflicts and suffering, and Nigeria is also going through a difficult period.”

He assured the community of his “prayer for the security, unity, spiritual and economic progress of your nation,” urging them to “foster dialogue and to listen to each other with an open heart, without excluding anyone on political, social, and religious levels.”

He warned against disunity, saying, “The danger is one of closure, of not being universal, but closing oneself off in an isolation that is – I allow myself to use the word – tribal. Community, yes; tribe, no… [What we need is] universality, and not closing oneself off within one’s own culture.”

The danger is one of closure, of not being universal

Turning to poverty and suffering, he encouraged the Nigerian community to embody “God’s style” of “closeness, compassion, and tenderness.” He said, “Do not forget this… all Nigerians can continue to walk together in fraternal solidarity and harmony” by being “heralds of the great mercy of the Lord” and working to “alleviate the burden of the poor and the most needy.”

He also expressed gratitude for their faith, highlighting “the numerous young people from Nigeria who have heard the Lord’s call to the priesthood and the consecrated life” with “generosity, humility, and perseverance,” urging them to “always be missionary disciples” in building “a more just and humane world.”

Participants listen to Pope’s address (Vatican Media) 

Pope Francis, the cherished leader of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, succumbing to complications from double pneumonia.

The announcement was made by the Vatican, with Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, confirming the pontiff’s death at 7:35 AM at his residence in Casa Santa Marta.

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88

Vatican News reported the somber news on the same day, stating, “Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta.”

The report marked the end of a 12-year papacy defined by compassion, reform, and an unwavering dedication to the marginalized.

In a statement shared on the Vatican’s verified X handle, Cardinal Farrell addressed the faithful at 9:45 AM, saying, “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis.

Do not forget this… all Nigerians can continue to walk together in fraternal solidarity and harmony

At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized.”

The Cardinal concluded, “With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”

The Pope’s health had been deteriorating for months. Admitted to Gemelli University Hospital in Rome on February 14, 2025, he was initially diagnosed with bronchitis, which quickly escalated into double pneumonia.

Alleviate the burden of the poor and the most needy

His condition was exacerbated by a chronic lung ailment from his youth, when part of one lung was removed. He endured a grueling 38-day hospitalization, discharged on March 23, but faced recurring setbacks.

For over two months, he battled severe respiratory distress, including a near-fatal episode on February 28 when he aspirated vomit. Despite a frail appearance at Easter Sunday Mass on April 20, where he waved to crowds from St. Peter’s Basilica, he passed away the following morning. The Pope’s death closes a transformative chapter for the Church, leaving behind a legacy of inclusivity and social justice.

Children attending the meeting   (Vatican Media)

Nigeria, with one of the largest Catholic populations in Africa, numbering in the millions, mourns a pontiff who, even in his final moments, saw their diversity as a strength and their struggles as a call to action.

His last words to them stand as a testament to his enduring vision: a plea for unity, mercy, and solidarity in a fractured world.

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