By Denrele Animasaun

“The greater a man is in power above others, the more he ought to excel them in virtue. None ought to govern who is not better than the governed.” — Publius Syrus

All eyes were on Rome for the inauguration of Pope Francis. On addressing the devoted and the world leaders immediately at the Mass where over 200,000 gathered, he called on world leaders and people all over to defend the weak. He seemed to address the leaders directly that the young, old and those in need were often neglected and ignored.

Pope Francis said the pope himself must be inspired by the lowly – “the poorest, the weakest, the least important, those who Matthew lists in the final judgment on love: the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, and the sick, those in prison”. The following day he again left the Vatican, incognito, to visit a sick friend in hospital.

The new pope is a frugal man, a friend of the poor, in the long tradition of another icon of the Catholic Church, whose name he has borrowed, St Francis of Assisi. As bishop, he used to travel around Buenos Aires on public transport and cook for himself in a small apartment.

This is a good way to start off. No this Pope is not just talking, judging from his time as a cardinal, not only does he talk the  talk but that he walks the walk. There is no reason that the Pope will change his tune and his focus after all when he was cardinal he shunned the cardinal mansion and rented himself a small but modest flat. The Vatican is in for a change and a good change too; this man does not want to stand on pomp and ceremony.

After his successful election, he again shun the Limousine and took the coach to the hotel he was staying, paid his bill and refused help to carry his luggage.

There is a need of a common sense approach; someone in touch with the masses, he chose a good name and he seemed to want to emulate his name sake, Francis of Assisi. Pope Francis, 76, when referring to Francis of Assisi and saying that the role of protector was not just a Christian one.

He said: “It means protecting all creation, the beauty of the created world… It means respecting each of God’s creatures and respecting the environment in which we live. “It means protecting people, showing loving concern for each and every person, especially children, the elderly, those in need, who are often the last we think about.” And he went on “all those who have positions of responsibility in economic, political and social life” to be protectors of creation. “To protect creation, to protect every man and every woman, to look upon them with tenderness and love, is to open up a horizon of hope,” Pope Francis said.

And for good measures, this shows the character of the man who is Pope. After the election was declared in the Sistine Chapel, a Vatican official called the Master of Ceremonies offered to the new Pope the traditional papal red cape trimmed with ermine that his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI gladly wore on ceremonial occasions. The Pope reportedly replied “No thank you, Monsignor, “You put it on instead. Carnival time is over!”

The  carnival   may  be  over but I  am  sure  the  majority  of  Catholics were  not  invited then  but  with  this   new  pope he  will welcome many  with  open  arms.  Such humility and openness should be emulated by our state and religious leaders.

Re: My Brother’s keeper comment
I just finished reading your article on “My brother’s keeper” from Sunday Vanguard dated the 10th March, 2013. It was properly written and I praise your effort. It’s so sad that such activities still takes place in our universities in Nigeria. I blame all of us (youths, parents, the school authority, the Government) for these unruly events. It takes a village to raise a child. Some youths have already been initiated into cult groups even before gaining admission into tertiary institutions, some parents have already initiated their kids long before they got admission into school, the school authority cannot protect students, and the Government does not care who dies or who lives. The Nigerian system is messed up. Why? Simple, it’s because of the level of poverty, discrimination, tribal differences, and religious fanatics. May God help us. – FT

The dirty dozen
So President Goodluck Jonathan did grant pardon to eight Nigerians; Alamieyeseigha, the former Chief of General Staff, General Oladipo Diya; the late former Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters and brother of late President Umaru Yar’Adua; Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua; Major Bello Magaji, rtd, Mohammed Lima Biu, former Head, Bank of the North, Shettima Bulama, Major Segun Fadipe(rtd), and late Major General Abdulkareem Adisa (post humus).  His PR machine said he had done nothing wrong that it is the presidential prerogative to pardon anyone he wants to and beside they  protest OBJ was imprisoned and pardoned, became the president of Nigeria.

Well, that’s pot calling kettle black.  Where  have  they heard that two  wrongs make a right  and  besides,we do  know  that Jonathan was  Alamieyeseigha’s deputy as Bayelsa State governor when the Federal Government masterminded his removal from office to pave the way for his subsequent trial for money laundering offences. Do not tell me that there are no conflicts of interest, but that means nothing to a president that cares less what we think or feel as long as we can vote him back in come 2015. This is so apparent and the move is so audacious as it seems there is one law for some and another for others.  This is going to turn ugly and how do leaders tell us one thing and do something else.