Religion

Pope makes surprise appearance during Mass in St. Peter’s Square

Published

3 months ago

April 6, 2025

Pope Francis © Vatican News

Pope Francis made a surprise appearance in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday morning during a special Jubilee Mass for the sick and health care workers.

The pontiff, who was rolled into the square on a wheelchair, was making his first public appearance at the Vatican since being released from hospital two weeks earlier.

As he made his way to the altar at the square, he waved at the crowd. “Good Sunday to everyone,” said the pope. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

The pope’s voice sounded louder and stronger than when he spoke outside Gemelli hospital on 23 March, the day of his release. He had been battling life-threatening pneumonia during a five-week stay there.

In an Angelus Sunday prayer written by the pope himself and read out by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the pontiff said: “I pray for doctors, nurses and health care workers, who are not always able to work in adequate conditions and are sometimes even victims of aggression.”

“Their mission is not easy, and they must be supported and respected. I hope that the necessary resources will be invested in treatment and research, so that health care systems will be inclusive and attentive to the poor and the most fragile.”

He also thanked the inmates of Rebibbia women’s prison, who had sent him a card wishing him a quick recovery. “I pray for them and for their families,” he wrote, before wishing for peace in places affected by war, as well as more aid for Myanmar and Haiti.

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Religion

Campaign against my role in Tinubu’s cabinet if you’re confident – Wike dares Kingibe

Published

10 hours ago

July 17, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has dared the Senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe to visit the neighboring towns and campaign against his role in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet if she is truly confident in her political standing.

In a statement on Tuesday, Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, said Kingibe was already blinded by the looming prospect of her electoral defeat and therefore unable to recognize the positive transformation taking place in Abuja and the FCT’s satellite towns.

In response to comments made by Senator Kingibe on a television program on Monday, where she described President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of Wike as FCT Minister as his “biggest mistake,” Olayinka said, “it is funny that someone who is impersonating by using the name of Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, who is no longer her husband, believes that jumping from one television station to the other to disparage the FCT Minister will revive her dead political career.”

He also highlighted the recent infrastructural progress under Wike’s leadership, challenging the Senator to visit communities such as Saburi, Dei Dei, Kabusa, Ketti, Yangoji, Pai, Gomani, Gishiri, Kwaita, Yebu, Sukuku, Ebo, Ushafa, and others that now boast of new roads, and tell residents there that Tinubu made a mistake in appointing Wike.

He also pointed to longstanding projects finally seeing progress, including the relocation of traders at Apo Mechanic Village to a permanent site after over 15 years, as well as the construction along Apo-Wasa road.

“In Abaji, Federal Capital Territory University, Abaji (FCTU), a university established close to 15 years ago, but was abandoned, is now witnessing a massive infrastructural development.

“Also, general renovation of 22 schools has been done in the last 12 months while renovation of more than 40 others is ongoing.

Describing Kingibe as “someone already blinded by the spirit of a coming defeat,” Olayinka alleged that she is aware she will not be able to retain her Senate seat in 2027.

The reason is, she knows that in 2027, she won’t be able to retain the Senate seat she accidentally got in 2023. She knows that the factor that got her to the Senate is no longer available and she is desperate to use attacks on Wike to gain political leverage.

“Unfortunately, Wike is not in the comity of frustrated politicians like Ireti ‘Kingibe’ who is treating her aides like slaves, refusing to pay their wages and entitlements for months,” Olayinka said.

He advised the Senator to “get real” and stop what he termed impersonation.

“At 71, a woman should have a clear identity, use her legitimate names, and stop using the name of a man she is no longer married to.”

Religion

2025 Hajj: Final batch of Kebbi pilgrims arrive from Saudi Arabia

Published

2 weeks ago

June 30, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The final batch of Kebbi State pilgrims has returned home following the completion of the 2025 Hajj exercise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The return flight, carrying 418 pilgrims, landed at Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Ambursa, on Sunday evening, marking the conclusion of the state’s airlift operations.

The pilgrims were from Aleiro Local Government Area, accompanied by officials of the Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, PWA, and other government representatives. Also onboard were the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Sama’ila Muhammadu Mera, who led this year’s delegation, and the PWA Chairman, Alhaji Faruku Musa Yaro Enabo.

Speaking shortly after arrival, Enabo described the Hajj exercise as successful, attributing the smooth coordination to the efforts of various stakeholders.

“We thank all those who played a role, both in Kebbi and in Saudi Arabia, for their cooperation and dedication throughout the pilgrimage,” he said.

He also expressed appreciation to the Governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris, for his continued support and commitment to ensuring the well-being of pilgrims.

With the safe return of this final group, Kebbi becomes one of the states to have concluded its 2025 Hajj return operations without any major incident.

Religion

Hardship: Pastor Adeboye plans prayer for economic restoration

Published

3 weeks ago

June 28, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, is set to lead a national prayer session for the restoration of Nigeria’s economy.

This comes amid worsening economic hardship in the country.

The prayer session will be held during the RCCG’s July 2025 thanksgiving service, themed “Divine Intervention,” at the church’s national headquarters in Oyingbo, Lagos.

Speaking through his Special Assistant on Administration, Pastor Dele Balogun, Adeboye said the current challenges facing Nigeria and other nations are surmountable through faith and positive action.

“Our nation, Nigeria, as well as other nations of the world, are going through a challenging time. However, the good news is that these challenges are surmountable by faith, if we do not entertain doubt,” he said.

Adeboye called on Nigerians to move away from negative confessions and embrace faith-based thinking as a pathway to progress, expressing confidence that God could reverse the country’s economic decline.

He said the prayer initiative is intended to spark national transformation and open up “divine opportunities” for the country.

Also speaking, the Assistant Pastor in Charge of Province 1, RCCG, Pastor Olusegun Macaulay, noted that divine opportunities are often activated by God and benefit those who are spiritually connected.

Macaulay added that a dedicated team is already praying for the nation throughout the second half of the year, focusing on key areas such as the economy, environment, and national stability.