Bishop Mathew Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese in Nigeria, has expressed sadness over the death of Pope Francis. He described the late Pope as a true leader who was kind, caring, and deeply committed to helping others.

According to the Daily Post, the Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis passed away on Monday morning at the age of 88. He died after suffering a stroke and heart failure.

In his tribute, Bishop Kukah praised Pope Francis for freeing the message of Jesus from strict and rigid beliefs. He said the Pope showed that Christianity should be about love, compassion, and helping the weak.

Bishop Kukah noted that Pope Francis always stood with the poor and the suffering. He also reminded the world about the dangers of destroying the environment. In 2015, Pope Francis released a powerful letter called Laudato Si, urging people to take better care of the Earth.

The bishop also spoke about Fratelli Tutti, a message the Pope shared in 2020 to promote friendship and unity across all faiths. He worked closely with Muslim leaders like the Chief Imam of Al-Azhar Mosque to encourage peace and brotherhood.

Pope Francis began his leadership with a message in 2013 titled Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), where he outlined his goals for the Church.

Bishop Kukah admitted that the Pope’s views sometimes caused debates, but he believes the Pope stayed true to the real message of Jesus, which goes beyond politics or ideology.

He ended his tribute by saying the world has lost a moral compass and now waits for the next Pope to carry on the mission.