Papal Investiture for Deserving Men, Women of Integrity
Adibe Emenyonu reports on the investiture of Dr. Jackson Gaius-Obaseki and 19 others With Papal Knighthood/Dame of the Catholic Church
The Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City, Edo State was agog Saturday, August 7, 2021 when the Holy Father, Pope Francis bestowed Papal Knighthood on 20 faithfuls of the church. The investiture was performed on behalf of the Pope by the Archbishop of Benin Metropolitan See, His Grace, Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze at St. Paul’s Catholic Cathedral.
The investiture attracted high profile dignitaries like, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, represented by wife, Betsy; Edo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Philip Shaibu and wife, Maryann; former Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke; and one-time Governor of Edo State as well as former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
Others present were: former NBA President, Augustine Alegeh, SAN; the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion; former Minister of Defence, Major-Gen. Godwin Abbe (rtd); and former Deputy Governor of Edo State and CoS to President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, among others.
Speaking during a Mass to commemorate the ceremony which attracted friends, family members and archdiocesan faithful, Archbishop Akubeze said “We are proud to announce that Pope Francis has today, bestowed Papal Honors upon 20 individuals for their dedication and exceptional service to the church in Benin.
Of the one score honoured, seven were named Knights/Dames St. Gregory the Great. They are, former Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Jackson Gaius-Obaseki; Fedinand Orbih, SAN, Andrew Agenmonmen, Johnson Aghedo, Richard Iyasere, Michael Enaboifoh and Patrick Ezeli.
The five Dames are; Mrs. Agatha Agenmonmen, Mrs. Clementina Aghedo, Mrs. Dorothy Ikheloa, Mrs.Florence Eweka and Mrs. Patricia Uujamhan .
Similarly, eight men and women were conferred with Knights/Dames of St. Sylvester the Pope. They included Godwin Osayande, Cyril Onyema, Joseph Iduozee, Joe Acha, Andrew Egonmwan and Albert Ikheloa, while the Dames are Mrs Betty Igbeyi, and Mrs Helen Lola-Ebueku.
Continuing, Archbishop Akubeze remarked, “Each person recognised by the Pope has performed some exceptional service for the church or offered some form of outstanding Christian witness in a generous and sustained way – in education, philanthropy, diaconal and religious life, vocations work, social ministry, and other apostolates. Each has earned the gratitude of the Holy Father and our whole Catholic community.”
According to him, those selected are persons found to be of unblemished character; who have promoted the interest of society, the Catholic Church and the Holy See (Vatican).
“To the glory of God and in recognition of their contributions to the mission of Church, it gives me pleasure to announce the decision of the Holy Father, Pope Francis to confer Papal honour on these lay faithful of our Archdiocese.
“On behalf of the Clergy, the religious and the lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Benin City, we congratulate the honourees and we urge them to continue the good work.
“It is our prayer that the good Lord will sense their strength as they aspire to dedicate themselves more intently to the service of the church and our Archdiocese”, the Archbishop declared.
He further added that of most important is that each represents and stands in for the many thousands of other committed Catholics who serve the Gospel every day with the same fidelity and unselfish love, noting however, that Christian discipleship is not about accumulating honours but that of friendship with God.
Nevertheless, the Archbishop stated that these special expressions of papal praise and gratitude are moments of grace for everyone as they’re meant to be a source of joy for the whole local Church.
He said: “These Christian men and women have been honoured by the Holy Father with the knighthood and Dames of St. Gregory The Great; knighthood and Dames of St. Sylvester The Pope.”
Papal Knight/Dame is an honour or title of nobility conferred by the Pope in his capacity as temporal sovereign.
There are five categories of papal knighthood. They are in descending rank: the Supreme Order of Christ, the Order of the Golden Spur, the Order of Pius IX, the Order of St Gregory the Great, and the Order of St Sylvester the Pope and Martyr.
The first is conferred directly by the Holy Father but extremely rarely as its last member died in 1993 and is reserved for Catholic heads of state for key involvement in an event attended by the Pope.
Presently, there is no living members of the Order of the Golden Spur, an honour made by the pope on his own impulse. The last member, Jean, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, died recently.
The remaining three orders are open to Catholics and non-Catholics alike, and to men (knights) and women (Dames), with the Order of Pius IX – the Pian Order–the highest award made at present, usually to diplomats.
The Order of St. Gregory is for conspicuous lay service to the Church on the recommendation of a diocesan Bishop with the support of the Papal Nuncio. Likewise the Order of St. Sylvester which is awarded on the advice of a bishop to laity distinguished by their service, particularly in the apostolates.
Among the orders, are decorations, and medals of the Holy See which include titles, chivalric orders, distinctions and medals honoured by the Holy See, with the Pope as the fount of honour, for deeds and merits.
High point of the ceremony was the filling out of respective recipients to receive the sword, medal and hat, as a sign of oath of allegiance and soldiers of Christ with a charge to defend the church and their religious faith.
In appreciation, all the awardees retired to their various homes to entertain their guests.
In particular, one of these, is Rt. Chevalier (Hon.) Jackson Gaius Obaseki as his title now read, not only entertained his guests but was honoured the following day by his parish, St. Augustine Catholic Church for being a good ambassador.
During the Mass officiated by the Archbishop of Benin City, Most Are. Dr. Augustine Obiora Akubeze, Jackson Obaseki was described by the Archbishop as “A man of uncommon character, gentle and unassuming.”
To Rev. For. Anthony Nkom, Parish Priest of St. Augustine Catholic Church, Jackson Gaius-Obaseki “is a man surrounded by the grace of God, hence he succeeds in whatever he does; a good man in all ramifications, well organised and simple.”
Also, the Rector, St. Paul’s Minor Seminary had this to say about Gaius-Obaseki: “Dr. Jackson Gaius-Obaseki is one of the few Nigerians who returned from retirement and was not accused of corruption and money laundering.”
Little wonder in appreciating the awardee, Chairman, Organising Committee, Sir. Austin Odigie (KSP), expressed gratitude to all and sundry for their wonderful support all through the epoch making event especially for their spontaneous responses to calls and goodwill messages waiting a limited time. He also thanked the pastoral team whose motivation powered the organising committee to achieve whatever success that was achieved in the quest to honour one of their parishioners who have made them proud as one of those invested with Papal knighthood, one of the highest order in Catholicism.
Each person recognised by the Pope has performed some exceptional service for the church or offered some form of outstanding Christian witness in a generous and sustained way – in education, philanthropy, diaconal and religious life, vocations work, social ministry, and other apostolates. Each has earned the gratitude of the Holy Father and our whole Catholic community