S.O.S ALIEME

The Catholic Church has once more demonstrated to the world that indeed it is the only Church founded by Christ and its first leader, Pope as Peter. After the demise of Pope Francis, the Cardinals went into the conclave to elect a new Pope.

Lo and behold within a space of three holy days the Church came up with a new Pope elected by the Cardinals in a situation devoid of rancour, animosity, hatred, tribalism, no campaign, no fighting and no bigotry.  A Cardinal who was made Cardinal in 2024 was elected as Pope in 2025.  What a great show of love and guidance from the Holy Spirit (the third person in one God).

The Catholic Church has been in the forefront of fighting for human rights all over the world.  The Church has also extended its dragnet suing for peace all over the world. The Catholic Pontiff is the Pope.  He heads the Church and he is the Bishop of Rome. The Catholic Church is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to the issue of peace throughout the world.  But do you know that the process of electing a Pope is worthy of adoption by countries of the world? The procedure for electing the Pope has evolved over the history of the Church.  The Cardinals are entrusted with the responsibility of electing the Successor of St. Peter. 

When a Pope dies, there is a nine-day period of mourning, during which time the prescribed funeral rites are performed.  At least fifteen days after the death of a Pope and not more than twenty, the Cardinals assemble at the Vatican. They reside at St. Martha’s House, a guest facility within Vatican City, close to St. Peter’s Basilica.  The deliberations and voting take place in the Sistine Chapel.  Pope John Paul II decreed “…that the election will continue to take place in the Sistine Chapel, where everything is conducive to an awareness of the presence of God, in whose sight each person will one day be judged”.  The conclave must operate without any outside interference.  Only authorized individuals are allowed access to St. Martha’s House and the Sistine Chapel. 

Also, the strictest secrecy must prevail during the conclave.  Pope John Paul II asserted, “I further confirm by my apostolic authority the duty of maintaining the strictest secrecy with regard to everything that directly or indirectly concerns the election process itself”. Therefore, the Cardinal electors individually take a solemn oath to observe the regulations and to maintain secrecy during and after the election “regarding everything that in any way relates to the election of the Roman Pontiff and regarding what occurs in the place of the election”.  

The Cardinals are forbidden “to communicate– whether by writing, by telephone, or by any other means of communication– with persons outside the area where the election is taking place.  Moreover, they are forbidden during the conclave to read newspapers or periodicals, to listen to the radio, or to watch television.  The implication of this is that there is no campaigning for the exalted office. Any violation of secrecy will result in “grave penalties,” including excommunication, as judged by the reigning Pope. 

Moreover, prior to the election, “careful and stringent checks must be made with the help of trustworthy individuals of proven technical ability in order to ensure that no audio-visual equipment has been secretly installed in these areas for recording and transmission to the outside”.   “All technical instruments of any kind for the recording, reproducing, or transmitting of sound, visual images, or writing” are forbidden.

When a Pope has been elected, the Dean of the College of Cardinals asks the consent of the one elected: “Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?”  Keep in mind that a person may refuse to accept.  However, our Holy Father implored, “I also ask the one who is elected not to refuse, for fear of its weight, the office to which he has been called, but to submit humbly to the design of the divine will.  God, who imposes the burden, will sustain him with his hand so that he will be able to bear it. 

In conferring the heavy task upon him, God will also help him to accomplish it and, in giving him the dignity, he will grant him the strength not to be overwhelmed by the weight of his office”.  While these regulations seem very exacting, we must not forget the role of the Holy Spirit.  Throughout the conclave, the Cardinal electors, individually and collectively, implore the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 

Can’t Nigerians adopt this system of electing our President?  We need the divine intervention of God to be able to discern evil from good when it comes to election matters. It is possible to design a constitution that will allow contestants and voters to go into serious and dedicated prayers before a President is chosen.  Nigerians can adapt the absolute secrecy that is practiced in Rome by Cardinals to elect a President. 

Since independence, Nigeria seems to have been ruled by people without the fear of God. The Country has been ruled by Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, General Aguiyi Ironsi, General Yakubu Gowon, General Murtala Muhammed, General Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, General Muhammadu Buhari, General Badamosi Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan, General Sanni Abacha, General Abdulsalam Abubakar, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Musa Yar’Adua, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, Muhammadu Buhari and now Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Yet, corruption, anarchy, tribalism, nepotism, totalitarianism etc has thrived like garri in the market.  All these leaders are either Muslims or Christians, which means the Nigerian people should have expected that the fear of God will take control while they are on the throne.  But alas! Reverse is the case!!! 

Our leaders are ruling us with impunity, no respect for the rule of law, even when constituted courts give judgements they never obeyed. The judiciary, legislature and the executive are not in good terms.  The executive arm of the government sees itself as the alpha and omega of the political system.  Every arm of the government wants to show its ego. It is in Nigeria that things are done the opposite way. The Cardinals are human beings like Nigerians but the level of reasoning differs. Nigerians need divine intervention to succeed. 

If Nigeria can emulate the Catholic Church …

God Bless Nigeria!!!