Catholic Bishop, Matthew speaks on Nigerian Cardinals’ becoming Pope 

….urges Nigerian leaders to emulate Pope Francis humble life style

By, Nicholas Dekera, Kaduna 

The Catholic Bishop of Kaduna Archdiocese, Archbishop Mathew Manoso-Ndagoso on Friday said that all the Nigerian Cardinals’, except one Cardinal Peter Okpalake who is just in his fifties are qualified to be elected as Pope 

He equally urged Nigerian leaders and all Christians to emulate the humble life style of Pope Francis, who according to him lived a life of humility and care for the marginalized in the society. 

Manoso-Ndagoso made this known during a requiem Mass for the Pope in Kaduna, said: “I will like to say Pope Francis actually lived up to the name of the Pope, Pontifex, means bridge builder, every Pope is a bridge builder that is why he is called the Supreme Pontiff. There are a lot of legacies he left behind for us as a Church, I pray the Church will be able to carry them through. 

On Nigerian Cardinals’ qualifications to be elected as pope, He said, “all the Cardinals except one Cardinal Peter Okpalake who is just in his fifties  is qualified,  but for the other Cardinals like Arinze who is in Rome, Cardinal Onaiyekan, Cardinal Anthony Okojie if they are able they can participate in the discussions in Rome, they will be days of discussion as regards the kind of Pope we want at this time, but when it comes to the real elections because they are over Eighty non of them can vote and be voted for”

On whether there is a vacuum in the Catholic Church as it is now, the Arch Bishop said  “as it is now you saw the ceremony that took place the day he was confirmed dead they declared sede-vacante  they went and sealed his apartment where he lived and declaring that Pope and leader of the church is dead and therefore there’s a vacant seat.

“Tomorrow he will be buried and after the burial, the next nine days there will be a period of mourning and then after the period of mourning, the process of electing a new leader will commence, so yes, there is interregnum, there is a sede-vacante meaning that the seat is empty. 

“So now it’s the team of the college of cardinals that is now running the affairs of the Church so no major decisions will be taken, the normal ordinary running of the Church will continue.” He stated.