Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja,  Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has asked politicians and traditional rulers in the country to lead with the fear of  Almighty God.

Cardinal Onaiyekan gave the charge in his homily at a mass in the chapel of the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, Delta State in commemoration of Saint Charles Borromeo, the Italian Cardinal often described as the “loving reformer.” 

He said leaders in various positions of authority should be conscious that the Almighty God gave them such leadership responsibilities, adding that they should lead in accordance with the will of God.

At the service were His Royal  Majesty Emmanuel Sidedo, Abe 1, the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, his chiefs and others.

Onaiyekan said he was elated that the monarch and several others in his kingdom were Christians.

He said: “Saint Charles Borromeo lived during the time of the Protestant Reformation, and had a hand in the reform of the whole church during the final years of the Council of Trent.

“Although he belonged to the Milanese nobility and was related to the powerful Medici family, Charles desired to devote himself to the Church. In 1559, when his uncle, Cardinal de Medici was elected Pope Pius IV, he made Charles cardinal-deacon and administrator of the Archdiocese of Milan.

“At the time Charles was still a layman and a young student. Because of his intellectual qualities, Charles was entrusted with several important offices connected with the Vatican, and later appointed secretary of state with responsibility for the papal states. The untimely death of his elder brother brought Charles to a definite decision to be ordained a priest, despite his relatives’ insistence. Soon after being ordained a priest at age 25, Borromeo was consecrated bishop of Milan.

“Charles took the initiative in giving a good example. He allotted most of his income to charity, forbade himself all luxury, and imposed severe penances upon himself. He sacrificed wealth, high honors, esteem, and influence to become poor.

“During the plague and famine of 1576, Borromeo tried to feed 60,000 to 70,000 people daily. To do this, he borrowed large sums of money that required years to repay. Whereas the civil authorities fled at the height of the plague, he stayed in the city, where he ministered to the sick and the dying, helping those in want.

“Work and the heavy burdens of his high office began to affect Archbishop Borromeo’s health, leading to his death at the age of 46.”

[Vanguard]