Cardinal Okogie leads mass for Pope

(6 Apr 2005)
1. Procession of clergymen entering the cathedral for mass, Cardinal Antony Olubumni Okogie (carrying a staff) is accompanied to his left by Bishop Edmund Fitzgibbon from Dublin, Ireland (Nigerian resident) (two at back with hats)
2. Cathedral interior with congregation singing
3. Cardinal giving sermon about the the late Pope John Paul II, with photograph of Pope on view
4. Pan of congregation listening to sermon
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Cardinal Antony Olubumni Okogie:
"It is not impossible, we have Africans already among the cardinals, nothing is impossible with God. After all, you know how many years the Italians have monopolised the Holy See and the papacy? And he was the first (referring to the fact that Pope John Paul was the first non-italian pope for more than 400 years), and he assured that apart from the Italians something good can come out of this region."
6. Cardinal holds wafer for holy communion, then raises goblet to bless
7. Cutaway of nuns listening on the front row
8. Bishop Edmund Fitzgibbon, amongst other clergymen, at the altar listening to the Cardinal
9. Hundreds of people sitting outside the church, as the church was full, listening to the service
10. Medium shot Cardinal Olubumni Okogie and Bishop Fitzgibbon at the altar
11. Cardinal leaving the church

STORYLINE:

Thousands of Nigerians turned out in Lagos on Tuesday for a special requiem mass to remember the late Pope John Paul II.

The Holy Cross Cathedral was unable to seat all those wishing to attend and additional seating was provided outside.

It was an event attended by many Nigerian dignitaries, including both present and former politicians.

The Nigerian Cardinal, Antony Olubumni Okogie addressed the congregation from an altar adorned with candles and a large picture of the late Pope.

In his statement the Cardinal extolled the virtues of the late Pope and prayed that his soul rest in peace.

Speaking to reporters afterwards he said "it was not impossible" for the next pope to come from an African country.

Nigeria, Africa's most populous state, is split between Christians and Muslims. As in other parts of Africa, Catholicism is facing competition from Islam and from evangelical churches.

Some Africans have expressed hope that the next pope might be one of their own.

Nigerian cardinal Francis Arinze, based at the Vatican, often comes up when possible successors to Pope John Paul II are discussed.

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