By Christopher Odamah, Warri
The Catholic Bishop of Warri Diocese, His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. John Okeoghene Afareha has urged Nigerians, particularly Christians, to use the Lenten period to fully turn to God for their salvation and peace.
Bishop Afareha made the call during a homily to mark the beginning of Lenten period at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Warri headquarters of Catholic Diocese of Warri.
He stressed the need for Christians to draw closer to God in all they do as it was the only way the much needed peace and love for one another would be achieved.
While urging Nigerian Christians to use the period to express love for one another and extend hand of fellowship to the less privileged ones in the society because the period of lent is a period to discipline our body and total repentance from all evil.
The cleric stated that the early church started the practice of using ashes to symbolize repentance, noting that it has been a long time practice.
Bishop Afareha said that Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent period which is the period of 40 days fasting, adding that Christians are expected to observe it and use the period to draw closer to God and have total repentance.
According to him, “The significance of fasting is to invite some form of suffering, some form of mortification upon ourselves.”
The Catholic Bishop of Warri Diocese, who supported his message with several bible passages, said that the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI was not strange as other Popes in the past have resigned.

He emphasized that his resignation with not affect the Catholic Church as the process to replace him will be peaceful and smooth.