Senate President Godswill Akpabio is leading a high-level Nigerian delegation to Vatican City to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, scheduled for Saturday.
The development was announced in a statement issued Friday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy.
President Tinubu approved the five-member delegation, which 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 the Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah; and Archbishop of the Abuja Archdiocese, Ignatius Ayau Kaigama.
According to the statement, the delegation will formally present a condolence letter from President Tinubu to the Acting Head of the Vatican, expressing Nigeria’s heartfelt sympathy over the Pope’s passing.
Earlier this week, President Tinubu joined millions of Catholics and Christians around the world in mourning the death of Pope Francis, whom he described as “a humble servant of God, a tireless advocate for the poor, and a guiding light to countless faithful.”
Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, just a day after presiding over Easter Sunday celebrations at the Vatican.
President Tinubu noted that the Pope’s passing—coming shortly after the commemoration of Christ’s resurrection—signifies a sacred return to his Creator and offers renewed spiritual hope to Christians across the globe.
