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Pope Leaves Vatican, Pledges Allegiance To Successor
Pope Benedict XVI pledged his allegiance to his future successor and appealed for unity within the Catholic Church, during a historic farewell with cardinals yesterday, hours before resigning from the papacy.
Benedict officially steps down at 8 p.m. end of his papacy will be marked by the closure of the gates of the palace of Castel Gandolfo, the papal residence on the outskirts of Rome where he is to relocate over the coming weeks.
He told cardinals that he would pray for the Holy Spirit to assist them in the choice of a new pope, to whom “I promise my unconditional reverence and obedience.’’
Elected on April 19, 2005, Benedict is the first pontiff to resign in almost 600 years. His decision had raised questions about how the Catholic Church will deal with the unprecedented situation of having a former pope alive alongside his successor.
Cardinals will hold preliminary meetings on Monday, with a view to set a date for the conclave, the closed-door assembly held in the Sistine Chapel tasked with electing a successor.
The aim is to have a new pope by Easter, which falls on March 31 this year.
During his papacy, Benedict had to deal with the alleged cover-up of child sex abuse by priests and the VatiLeaks affair – the publication of confidential papal papers which shed light on suspected cronyism, corruption, power struggles and scheming inside the Vatican.
He insists his decision to leave the papacy was dictated by his diminishing strength from old age and had nothing to do with Vatican scandals.
Echoing remarks made about the ups and downs of his papacy during his last public audience, Benedict told the cardinals that he had gone through “wonderful moments of shining light as well as moments in which some clouds gathered in the sky’’.
He did not refer to the alleged Vatican intrigues, but he said that for all its diversity, “the College of Cardinals should be like an orchestra following a superior and concordant harmony.’’
Benedict also struck an optimistic note about the future of the Catholic Church, describing it as “a living being animated by the Holy Spirit,’’ as he recalled the large crowds that had turned up to hear him in St Peter’s Square last Wednesday.
During yesterday’s farewell ceremony, the 85-year-old pontiff made a brief speech and then stood up for over half an hour while cardinals took turns to pay their respects.
Appearing frail but alert, he stopped the process briefly to drink a glass of water.
United States Cardinal Roger Mahony was among those who greeted the pope, in spite of an online petition that had urged him to stay away from Rome due to his past attempts to shield priests who sexually abused children. Because of this, he has already been stripped of all public duties.
“Holy Father, with deep love we always tried to accompany you along your path,’’ Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Dean of the College of Cardinals said.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence that the country would win the fight against insecurity.
The President gave the assurance at the Argungu International Fishing Festival in Argungu town, Kebbi State, on Saturday.
He noted that the relative peace currently being enjoyed in Kebbi and neighbouring states was the result of sustained investments in security intelligence, coordination among security agencies, and community engagement.
Tinubu assured farmers and fishermen of sustained federal support to guarantee food security and safety across the country.
“The peace we are witnessing today is not accidental. It is the outcome of deliberate and sustained efforts. I assure you that the fight against banditry, insurgency, and insecurity will be won.
“Our farmers, fishermen, traders, and families will go about their lawful activities without fear,” he assured.
The President commended the organisers of the festival for sustaining the cultural event for decades, noting that it had endured for 83 years despite social and security challenges.
Describing the Argungu festival as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence, Tinubu stated that it reflects the richness of the country’s culture and the opportunities to harness its natural and human resources for national growth.
He said, “Today, this festival stands as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence among our people.
“It reflects the richness of our culture, the strength of our traditions, and the opportunities inherent in harnessing our natural and human resources for national development.”
The President was received by a large crowd of residents, traditional rulers, fishermen, tourists, and government officials from across the country.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth and women empowerment, irrigation development, rural electrification, and agricultural productivity.
Earlier, the Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, said his administration was determined to elevate the Argungu Fishing Festival to full international standards while pursuing aggressive development across critical sectors of the state.
The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed today, in observance of Presidents’ Day.
The mission made this known in a notice shared on its official X page, yesterday.
“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of Presidents’ Day,” the post read.
According to the embassy, Presidents’ Day was originally established to honour the birthday of the former US President, George Washington, but has evolved into a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents and their leadership in shaping the country’s history.
The embassy noted that the holiday also recognises the influence of U.S. presidents on global affairs.
In a related message, the mission highlighted that Washington created the first “Badge of Military Merit,” which later became the Purple Heart. The medal still bears Washington’s image today.
Presidents’ Day is observed on the third Monday of February annually in the United States as a federal holiday.
News
Guterres Backs Nigeria’s Bid For UN Security Council Seat …Hails Tinubu’s Reforms, Regional Security Role
United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has charged Nigeria with spearheading Africa’s quest for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned to lead the continent toward superpower status.
Guterres, who backed Nigeria’s bid for the world body’s security council seat, also praised the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration as well as Nigeria’s leadership in stabilising the Sahel and ECOWAS regions, despite facing its own security challenges.
The UN scribe made the remarks last Friday night during a high-level bilateral meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking during the meeting, Guterres said Nigeria’s large population, sustained democratic governance, vast natural and human resources, and longstanding commitment to multilateralism placed it in a unique position to lead Africa in the evolving global order.
“Given Nigeria’s demographic strength, democratic continuity and deep resource base, the country stands a real chance of leading Africa to becoming the next superpower in the evolving global architecture,” he said.
The UN Secretary-General and the vice president discussed key developments in Nigeria and the country’s expanding leadership role in promoting regional stability across West Africa and the Sahel.
Guterres commended the remarkable and outstanding reforms of the administration of President Tinubu, noting that Nigeria’s bold economic restructuring and security commitments have strengthened its continental standing.
The meeting focused on strengthening Nigeria–UN collaboration to advance global economic growth, peace and security, sustainable development, and a coordinated humanitarian response across Africa.
In his remarks, Shettima thanked the UN Secretary-General for his leadership in advancing global peace, noting that Africa has benefited immensely from his tenure, even as the United Nations undergoes internal restructuring.
“We remain committed to multilateralism and to deepening our partnerships with the United Nations and other global institutions,” the vice president said.
Shettima also reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations system to reflect evolving global realities.
He emphasised that Africa must have stronger representation in global decision-making structures and declared that Nigeria deserves a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Both leaders pledged to deepen cooperation, with Guterres reaffirming the UN’s support for Nigeria’s reform agenda and its growing leadership role in advancing peace, security, and development across Africa.