Senate President Godswill Akpabio is leading a high-level Nigerian delegation to Vatican City for the funeral of Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, scheduled for Saturday.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued Friday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy.
The five-member delegation, appointed by President Tinubu, includes Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu; President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji; Archbishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese; and Archbishop Ignatius Ayua Kaigama of the Abuja Diocese.
According to the statement, the delegation will deliver a formal letter expressing President Tinubu’s condolences to the acting head of the Vatican following Pope Francis’ death.
Earlier in the week, President Tinubu joined the global Christian community in mourning the pontiff, whom he described as “a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions.”
Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, just one day after leading Easter Sunday services. Tinubu noted the symbolic nature of the Pope’s passing shortly after Easter, calling it “a sacred return to his Maker” and a moment of renewed hope for Christians around the world.
