5 hours Ago By Innocent Oweh
ABUJA – President Bola Tinubu has nominated Godwill Akpabio, Senate President, to lead Nigeria’s delegation to His Holiness Pope Francis’ burial on Saturday, April 26 in the Vatican. The five-member delegation includes 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, Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese; and Archbishop Ignatius Ayua Kaigama, Archbishop of Abuja Diocese. Pope Francis, the revered head of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, just one day after attending Easter Sunday celebrations at the Vatican.
According to a statement issued on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, the delegation will formally deliver a letter to the Acting Head of the Vatican conveying President Tinubu’s sympathy and condolences on Pope Francis’ passing. Tinubu joined Catholics and Christians around the world on Monday to mourn Pope Francis’ death, describing him as “a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions.” In his condolence message, President Tinubu stated that Pope Francis’ death, which occurred shortly after the celebration of Christ’s resurrection, is a sacred return to his Maker at a time of renewed hope for Christians.
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