Nigeria, April 23 -- Today, the world bows in solemn reverence, not merely because we have lost a pope, but because we have lost a man whose soul bore the unmistakable imprint of heaven, a shepherd who walked humbly with his flock, who led not with grandeur, but with grace, not with thunder, but with truth clothed in love.

For me, the loss of Pope Francis is deeply personal. In the hallowed halls of St. Peter's Basilica in 2017, it was Pope Francis who stood before me and my beloved wife, Amaka, and sanctified our union under God's gaze. With a presence as gentle as morning light and a spirit steeped in humility, he wove divine joy into that moment, leaving a mark on our souls we shall carry all our days. Unfortunately, I lost my wife in...