2016-05-06 13:54:00

Pontifical Council for the Family President visiting Nigeria


Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, the President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, is in Nigeria to present the Apostolic Exhortation, ‘Amoris Laetitia’ to the Bishops and the Church of Nigeria. The Archbishop left Rome for Nigeria Thursday and is expected back in Italy next week. Just before leaving, Archbishop Paglia told Vatican Radio’s Africa Service that he was looking forward to the visit which was being made at the invitation of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria, CBCN.

The President of the Pontifical Council for the Family also spoke of the universal Church’s closeness with Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Archbishop of Abuja, who recently escaped an attempt on his life by suspected ‘Fulani herdsmen.’ Fortunately, neither the Cardinal nor those with him were hurt. 

Speaking about the incident to Vatican Radio, Archbishop Paglia expressed solidarity with Cardinal Onaiyekan and with all other persecuted Christians in the world.

“I want to express my friendship and solidarity with Cardinal Onaiyekan. We are praying for him and also for all Christians persecuted in Nigeria and elsewhere in the world. We are aware of the great testimony and witness to their faith that many Nigerian Christians have made in the recent past,” Archbishop Paglia said.

Archbishop Paglia said he was going to Nigeria to share the latest papal text devoted to the family. The idea is to present ‘Amoris Laetitia’ in a thoughtful and personal manner.

“I was invited by the Bishops’ of Conference of Nigeria to present the new Apostolic Exhortation ‘Amoris Laetitia.’ It is also an excellent opportunity for us to dialogue with the Bishops of the Church about this new document. ‘Amoris Laetitia’ is one of those papal documents that has been carefully written after a long preparation.”

While in Nigeria, Archbishop Paglia will also visit Owerri, Lagos, and Abuja.

“In each city, I will meet families and groups engaged in the pastoral care of the family. I will celebrate the Holy Eucharist with them and discuss the document, ‘Amoris Laetitia.’ We want to share the document not only with Bishops but with priests, sisters and of course, with families,” the Pontifical Council for the Family President emphasised.

(Fr. Paul Samasumo, Vatican Radio)

Email: engafrica@vatiradio.va








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