Akpabio leads Nigerian delegation to Pope Francis’ funeral
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio
Abdullateef Fowewe
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, is leading a high-level Nigerian delegation to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, in Vatican City on Saturday, revealed a statement by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday.
Tinubu sent the five-member delegation, which also includes the Minister of State, 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 delegation will formally deliver a letter conveying President Tinubu’s sympathy and condolences on Pope Francis’ passing to the Acting Head of the Vatican.
“On Monday, President Tinubu joined the Catholic faithful and Christians worldwide to mourn the death of Pope Francis, who he described as ‘a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions,’” Onanuga had written.
Dailyeconomy reported that Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88.
In the condolence message, Tinubu noted that Pope Francis’s death, coming just after the celebration of Christ’s resurrection, is a sacred return to his Maker at a time of renewed hope for Christians.
