Was the Visit of Pope Francis to Africa a Success? Nigerian Bishops meet amidst confusion over currency change, fuel scarcity, more killings, and pre-elections tension and anxiety

African Catholic Voices

Fr Stan Chu Ilo reflects on the Pope's visit to the DRC and South Sudan and points the way to the future. Based on the opinions of many analysts, there is a serious concern that the Pope's visit will amount to nothing, if the local politicians in these two countries are not committed to transparency and inclusive governments; national reconciliation and peace; the rule of law, and fighting corruption and abuse of power and the use of violence against their own people.
The second part of the episode is a reflection on the current state of Nigeria, and why next week's meeting of the Catholic bishops of Nigeria is the most decisive in a long time. In the face of the terrible suffering of Nigerians, following the change in Nigeria's currency, fuel scarcity, lack of access to their funds by citizens, lack of access to the basic necessities of life, rising hunger and starvation amidst a rise in violence and more killings in the land less than three weeks to the most consequential national elections in a generation, what hope can the Catholic Church give to Nigerians?