Senate President Godswill Akpabio is leading a high-level five-man Nigerian delegation to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, scheduled to hold in the Vatican City on Saturday.
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
Other members of the delegation are 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 Ayau Kaigama.
According to the statement, 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,” the statement read in part.
Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, just a day after leading Easter Sunday celebrations at the Vatican.
Tinubu added that the Pope’s death, coming after the celebration of Christ’s resurrection, symbolises a sacred return to his Maker, offering renewed hope to Christians worldwide.
