The Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Right Honourable Somtochukwu Udeze has described Francis Cardinal Arinze as ab preeminent priest in Africa,

Felicitating Cardinal Arinze, the Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on his ninety-second birthday anniversary, Right Honourable Udeze described him as an outstanding religious leader and called on other religious leaders to emulate Cardinal Arinze’s humility, uprightness, good nature and devotion to God, noting that he has done the State, Ndi Igbo, Nigeria and Africa proud in his religious career.

He revealed that Cardinal Arinze has in the course of his priestly mandate and duties, received an unprecedented Gold Medallion from the International Council of Christians and Jews for his outstanding achievements in inter-faith relations and prayed to God to continue to strengthen him.