Senate President Godswill Akpabio will lead a high-level Nigerian delegation to Vatican City on Saturday for the funeral of Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church.
This was revealed in a statement released on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy.
The five-member delegation, appointed by President Tinubu, includes the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu; President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji; Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Archbishop Matthew Hassan Kukah; and Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Archbishop Ignatius Ayua Kaigama.
The statement noted, “The delegation will formally deliver a letter conveying President Tinubu’s sympathy and condolences on Pope Francis’ passing to the Acting Head of the Vatican.”
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On Monday, President Tinubu joined Catholics and Christians around the world in mourning the Pope’s death, stating: “a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions.”
Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, just one day after leading Easter Sunday celebrations. President Tinubu remarked that the Pope’s passing, occurring after the celebration of Christ’s resurrection, “symbolises a sacred return to his Maker, offering renewed hope to Christians worldwide.”
