Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has concluded a trip that spanned both the United States and Rome, where he embarked on a spiritual pilgrimage dedicated to seeking divine intervention for Nigeria.
Obi’s visit began in the United States, where he delivered two keynote addresses over the weekend of October 4th and 5th. On Saturday, October 4th, he spoke at the Friendship Club, followed by a session at the 1st Ubuntu African Youth Assembly in Washington D.C. the following day.Peter Obi and his wife visited St. Peter’s Basilica for the Papal General Audience, where His Holiness Pope Leo XIV delivered a message on hope, perseverance, and faith during hard times.
Immediately after the events, Obi departed for Rome on the night of Sunday, October 5th, reuniting with his wife, who had arrived ahead of him. The visit to the Italian capital was centered on observing the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year, a rare event held every twenty-five years that encourages the faithful to seek mercy, renewal, and peace.
“My dearest wife and I chose to dedicate our prayers to Nigeria,” Obi said in a post via his X handle on Sunday.
Peter Obi and his wife visited St. Peter’s Basilica for the Papal General Audience, where His Holiness Pope Leo XIV delivered a message on hope, perseverance, and faith during hard times.
“With hearts full of gratitude, we thanked God that, despite our differences and the many challenges faced over sixty-five years of independence, He has kept us together as one nation — a rare and profound blessing for which we remain deeply thankful.”
During the pilgrimage, Obi and his wife visited three of Rome’s four major Papal Basilicas on Tuesday, October 7th — each of which featured a Holy Door opened only during Jubilee Years. At St. Mary Major, they passed through the Holy Door and prayed at the tomb of the late Pope Francis. They then proceeded to the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, where they were received by Cardinal James Harvey. The cardinal led them through the basilica’s Holy Door and reflected on the history and meaning of the Jubilee.
The third stop of the day was St. John Lateran, where they joined other pilgrims in prayer before continuing to the Scala Sancta (Holy Stairs), believed to be the very steps Jesus climbed before His trial before Pontius Pilate.
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“We sought forgiveness for our national transgressions and implored God to intervene in the suffering of the Nigerian people,” Obi stated. “We prayed for the injection into our political landscape selfless and compassionate leaders whose hearts He God would touch — leaders who would be truthful in word and deed, altruistic in service, and committed to using public resources for the common good.”
The pilgrimage concluded on Wednesday, October 8th, with a visit to St. Peter’s Basilica for the Papal General Audience, where His Holiness Pope Leo XIV delivered a message on hope, perseverance, and faith during hard times. After attending the session and passing through the final Holy Door of the four basilicas, Obi and his wife were received in a private audience with the Pope.
“At St. Peter’s, we were privileged to be received in audience by His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex, to whom we humbly appealed for prayers for our beloved country, Nigeria,” Obi revealed.
Throughout the spiritual journey, the former presidential candidate encountered several Nigerian pilgrims and took solace in their visible faith and quiet determination.
“Along the way, we met several Nigerian pilgrims: men and women of faith whose faces shone with quiet hope. Together, we renewed our trust in God’s divine mercy and in the promise of a renewed and better Nigeria,” he said.
Despite the spiritual focus of the trip, Obi stressed that faith must be accompanied by practical responsibility.
“I believe fervently in the power and providence of God. Yet, as we lift our nation before Him in prayer, we must not surrender to fatalism. Faith does not absolve us of responsibility; rather, it calls us to action. As Nigerians, we must each continue to do our part — with honesty, diligence, and love — for the healing and progress of our country.”
He ended his reflection with the same hopeful refrain that has come to define his political message: “A new Nigeria is POssible.
