The Mayor of Urhoboland, Delta State, South-South Nigeria, Eshanekpe Israel popularly known as Akpodoro, has congratulated the newly appointed Pope Robert Francis Prevost who has adopted the name, Pope Leo XIV who is the first American to the position at the heels of his missionary in Peru.
The congratulatory message of the popular Mayor was contained in a statement issued in Abuja, Thursday shortly after the announcement of the new Pope by the cardinals in Rome noting that the emergence of Pope Leo XIV is the beginning of a new era in the body Catholic Church – the world over, while the new Pope promised to continue with the vision of his late precedessor, Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88.
Pope Francis was the first Latin American leader of the Catholic Church and he served as pope for 12 years, focusing on making the institution more inclusive. His funeral was held in the Vatican, and he was laid to rest in St. Peter’s Cathedral.
According to the Mayor, during the process that led to the emergence of Pope Leo XIV, the world particularly Africans had expected the emergence of the Nigerian-born Cardinal Arinze but was quick to accept the verdict of the cardinals saying it is the will and inspiration of God who he said crowns a king as he call on the Catholic world to file behind the new Pope for a new order in the Catholic mission.
The challenge before the new Pope Mayor Akpodoro noted is how to deepen the unity and peace in both the Catholic and the world over saying the world needs peace as he descried unending wars in parts of the world particularly that between Russia and Ukrain stressing that the Catholic mission before now is not doing enough to entrench peace adding that Pope Leo XIV has a daunting task in interfacing with world leaders to bring peace to the warring nations of the world.
Mayor Akpodoro fears the return of the gay marriage as sanctioned by the Cathoic saying the new Pope should discourage same sex marriage noting that negative civilisation in the bane of evils in the world. “Congratulations to the Catholic world, we have a new Pope in Vatican – Papa Roma is an American, born in Chicago and have chosen the name Pope Leo XIV. Now, what’s your thought, I was looking at Cardinal Sara or Cardinal Arinze but who are we to question the unquestionable God who makes and dethrone kings?” Mayor Akpodoro stated.
