Senate President Akpabio leads Nigerian Delegation To Pope Francis’ Funeral.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has dispatched a distinguished Nigerian delegation to Vatican City for the funeral of Pope Francis, scheduled to take place on Saturday, 26 April 2025.
Leading the five-member delegation is the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. He is joined by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu; Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria; Archbishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese; and Archbishop Ignatius Ayua Kaigama of the Abuja Diocese.
The delegation will deliver an official letter of condolence from President Tinubu to the Acting Head of the Vatican, expressing Nigeria’s heartfelt sympathies over the passing of Pope Francis.
Pope Francis, the revered leader of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away on Monday, 21 April 2025, at the age of 88, just a day after he participated in Easter Sunday celebrations. His death has been met with an outpouring of mourning and reflection across the globe.
President Tinubu, in a statement on Monday, joined Catholics and Christians worldwide in mourning the loss, describing Pope Francis as “a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions.”
He further noted that the Pontiff’s passing, occurring shortly after the Easter celebration, symbolises a peaceful return to his Creator during a season of renewed hope and faith.
The Nigerian delegation’s presence at the Vatican funeral underscores the country’s solidarity with the global Christian community and honours Pope Francis’ lasting legacy of compassion, justice, and spiritual leadership.
