President Bola Tinubu has dispatched a Nigerian delegation to Vatican City for the funeral of Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88.
The funeral is set for Saturday, April 26, with dignitaries from around the world set to attend.
In a statement from his Special Adviser, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday, April 25, the Nigerian delegation, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, also includes Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese, and Archbishop Ignatius Ayua Kaigama of the Abuja Archdiocese.
The delegation will deliver a condolence letter from President Tinubu to the Acting Head of the Vatican, expressing Nigeria’s sympathy to the Catholic Church and the global Christian community.
According to the statement, President Tinubu described Pope Francis as “a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions.”
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He called the Pope’s death a profound loss to the Church and humanity, especially poignant just a day after Easter celebrations.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was the 266th Pope and the first from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere. His papacy was marked by a commitment to social justice, interfaith dialogue, and advocacy for the underprivileged.
Tinubu’s decision to send the delegation highlights Nigeria’s respect for the Pope’s global significance and the country’s historical ties with the Catholic Church.
The Pope’s messages of peace, justice, and compassion resonated deeply with Nigerians, particularly within the Catholic community.
President Tinubu expressed hope that the Church would draw strength from Pope Francis’s legacy of humility and moral leadership, especially in a world facing conflict and inequality.
The Nigerian delegation will join other global dignitaries in paying their final respects at the funeral.