Akpabio leads Nigeria’s delegation to Pope Francis’ funeral

By Kunle Sanni

President Bola Tinubu has dispatched a high-level Nigerian delegation to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday, April 21, at the age of 88.

The delegation, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, will participate in the burial ceremony scheduled for Saturday, April 26, at the Vatican.

Other members of the five-person team include the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji; Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah; and Archbishop of the Abuja Archdiocese, Ignatius Ayau Kaigama.

The delegation is expected to formally deliver a letter of condolence from President Tinubu to the Acting Head of the Vatican, expressing Nigeria’s sympathy over the death of the globally revered Catholic leader.

President Tinubu earlier described Pope Francis as “a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions.”

In his message, he noted the symbolic timing of the Pope’s passing—just after Easter Sunday—as “a sacred return to his Maker at a time of renewed hope for Christians.”