Following the burial of Pope Francis within seven days of death, the Catholic Bishop of Abakaliki Diocese in Ebonyi State, Peter Chukwu has encouraged christians especially Igbos to emulate the Catholic Church by burying their dead relations promptly.
Bishop Chukwu gave the advice in Abakaliki while paying glowing tribute to the departed Pontiff. He prayed for peaceful repose of his soul and for emergence of a more humble and compassionate successor at then conclave.
The Chief Shepherd of the diocese expressed worry that people, especially Igbos, often sell off family inheritances, get heavily indebted to sponsor flamboyant burial ceremonies unnecessarily for their dead relatives often at the detriment of the living.
He is of the opinion that people should take good care of their relatives while alive and at death bury them as soon as possible in accordance with their immediate financial strength.
“We the Igbos should strive to emulate the Catholic Church. Can you imagine the Pope died on Easter Monday and he was buried on Easter Saturday same week he died.
“We have to emulate such virtue of the Church and stop keeping dead bodies too long for years and months in preparations for flamboyant ceremonies. Regrettably most times the deceased persons died of neglect and hunger,” he remarked.