By Clement HOTONU

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria [CBCN] began her first plenary meeting of the year 2023 themed “Citizens’ Participation in Good Governance in Nigeria” on the 11th of February at her headquarters, the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Durumi, Abuja and the meeting is expected to last till the 17th of February 2023 .

The Opening Mass took place on Sunday 12th February 2023 at St. Gabriel Chaplaincy, CSN, Abuja with the President of the Bishops’ Conference, Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji as the chief celebrant in company of bishops and priests from various dioceses across the country. Also in attendance was the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Most Rev Antonio Guildo Filipazzi.

The homilist, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama welcomed the bishops to the Archdiocese of Abuja and stated that it is a beautiful thing for the bishops to have brought forward their statutory meeting from the first week of lent to this time to come aside to reflect and pray before the general elections in the country. He continued by urging the bishops to pray without ceasing for our country Nigeria and continue to speak against and condemn acts of social injustice as he left them with the words of Pope Francis during his Apostolic Journey to Africa.

“The recent visit of Pope Francis to Africa (Democratic republic of Congo and South Sudan) should inspire us Bishops, Priests and Catholics to remain resolute in speaking out against social injustices. As the Holy father remarked, Religious leaders cannot remain neutral before the pain caused by acts of social injustice. We Bishops have been unambiguous in condemning the abuse of power and plundering of our rich human and natural resources.” He continues by saying “while the church remains non-partisan as Pope Francis teaches in Evangelli Gaudium no. 183, the church cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice. Our nation prides its motto as UNITY AND FAITH, PEACE AND PROGRESS. But we are so divided by selfish religious and ethnic interests that gravely undermine our unity”.

The Holy Mass was immediately followed by an Opening Ceremony where the Nuncio made announcements such as the creation of the new Aguleri Diocese out of the Ecclesiastical Province of Onitsha and the appointment of Bishop Denis Isizoh as the pioneer Bishop of the diocese.

We pray for a peaceful reflection and a successful deliberations of the Bishops.