Pope: Lalong Tenders Unreserved Apology To Catholic Bishops

The Director-General (DG) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council, Governor Simon Bako Lalong, on Friday, tendered an unreserved apology to the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) over his ‘blasphemous’ remarks about the Holy Father, Pope Francis.

The governor of Plateau state, who admitted that it was an error on his part to have linked the Catholic Pontiff with Nigeria’s politics, begged for forgiveness and understanding from the Catholic Church through the Bishops’ conference.

In the letter dated 12th August 2022 and addressed to Archbishop Lucius Iweguru Ugorji, Archbishop of Owerri and President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, the governor said he has followed with some shock and deep regrets the reactions that trailed his appointment as the DG of the campaign council of the APC.

He said though some people commended him for accepting the appointment and saw it as a way of remaining within the system to fight for certain interests, others cast aspersions on it on the ground that the Christian faith has been insulted and denigrated.

“In the course of this, many of my opponents turned the issue into a political weapon with some spreading the rumour and questioning the integrity of my credentials as a Catholic and as a Papal Knight.

“In trying to make my case, I have granted interviews to justify why I believe that the appointment did not, in any way, undermine my commitment to the Catholic Church. During the week, and in the course of defending myself, I had course to make reference to my credentials as a Catholic and a Papal Knight. In the process, I made reference to the Holy Father.

“I now realise that this is an error on my part and has caused some level of concern and even embarrassment to many, especially to members of the family of Papal Knight to which I belong. I now understand that I may have overreached myself in the course of trying to defend my personal decision in accepting this appointment and thus the reference to the Holy Father was not intended as an act of disrespect to his exalted and revered office.

“Your Grace, by this written letter, I wish to tender my unreserved apologies and ask for their understanding and forgiveness from my brothers in the Catholic faith and through you, the entire members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, our fathers and our leaders.

“My commitment to the Catholic faith to which I belong remains unreserved and undiluted. I will continue to uphold the banner of my faith in public life as I have done over the years.

“You may recall, Your Grace, that in the last five years or so, I have been in the forefront of facilitating our dialogue as politicians with you, our fathers in the faith. I remain committed to this and pray that you will continue to encourage us as we ascend the slippery slope of politics.”