Why Rome Isn't the Barrier to Nigeria Producing its First Canonized Saint -Arinze


​-By Ruben Mario Brodrick 

ABUJA, NIGERIA – Cardinal Francis Arinze, a distinguished voice in the global Catholic hierarchy, has provided a profound explanation for a question that has long puzzled the faithful: Why has Nigeria—a nation with one of the world’s most vibrant and devout Catholic populations—not yet produced a formally canonized saint?

​In a candid breakdown of Vatican proceedings, the Cardinal clarified that the "sainthood gap" is not due to a lack of holiness among Nigerians or any reluctance from Rome. Instead, he pointed to a combination of rigorous procedural requirements and the specific pastoral focus of the Nigerian Church.

​The Grassroots Journey to Sainthood

​Cardinal Arinze debunked the common misconception that the Vatican independently "selects" saints. He emphasized that the journey to the altar is a bottom-up process. For a Nigerian to be canonized, the initiative must start within the local diocese where the candidate lived and died.

​This involves a meticulous, multi-year investigation where the local Church must:

  • ​Document Heroic Virtue: Prove the individual lived a life of extraordinary faith and sacrifice.
  • ​Verify Miracles: Provide undeniable medical or scientific evidence of miracles occurring through the candidate's intercession.
  • ​Appoint Postulators: Assign experts to advocate for the cause within the Roman Curia.

​Pastoral Priorities: Building for the Living

​The Cardinal noted that for decades, the Nigerian Church has been in a state of rapid, "missionary" expansion. The primary focus of bishops and leaders has been on evangelization and infrastructure—building parishes, schools, and hospitals to keep pace with a booming population.

​Because the canonization process is both time-consuming and expensive, it has often taken a back seat to the immediate spiritual and social needs of the living community. In essence, the "paperwork of holiness" has followed the "work of the Gospel."

​Nigeria’s "Saint-in-Waiting"

​Nigeria is already remarkably close to its first canonization. Blessed Michael Iwene Tansi, a Cistercian monk from Anambra State, was beatified by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Nigeria in 1998.

​Blessed Tansi has already cleared the hurdle of "Heroic Virtue" and the first miracle. He currently sits at the final threshold; only one more verified miracle is required to elevate him to full sainthood. Cardinal Arinze’s message serves as a reminder that while the spiritual fruit is ripe, the administrative labor of the local Church is what will ultimately bring Nigeria’s first saint to the global stage.

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