President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has dispatched a distinguished Nigerian delegation to Vatican City to attend the burial ceremony of His Holiness, Pope Francis, scheduled for today, Saturday, April 26, 2025.
Leading the five-member delegation is Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who will be joined by notable religious and government figures.
Other members of the delegation include Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; 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.
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The delegation is tasked with formally presenting President Tinubu’s condolence letter to the Acting Head of the Vatican, expressing Nigeria’s deep sorrow over the passing of Pope Francis.
Pope Francis, the beloved head of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away on Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88.
His death came just a day after he made a final public appearance during Easter Sunday celebrations at the Vatican, where he had once again inspired millions with his message of hope and renewal.
Reacting to the news, President Tinubu joined Catholic faithful and Christians around the world in mourning the revered pontiff. In a condolence message released on Monday, Tinubu hailed Pope Francis as “a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions.”
The President further reflected on the poignant timing of Pope Francis’s passing, noting that his death shortly after the Easter celebrations symbolized “a sacred return to his Maker at a time of renewed hope for Christians.”
The Nigerian delegation’s participation in the solemn ceremonies underscores the country’s solidarity with the global Catholic community during this historic period of mourning.