Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other members of Nigeria’s official delegation have arrived in Vatican City ahead of the funeral of Pope Francis, scheduled for Saturday.
Akpabio led the five-member high-level delegation constituted by President Bola Tinubu to represent Nigeria at the burial rites of the late head of the Roman Catholic Church.
Akpabio, while paying respects at the lying-in-state of Pope Francis inside St Peter’s Basilica, shared a tribute with photos via his official Facebook page on Friday.
“As the Leader of Nigeria’s delegation to the burial ceremony of Pope Francis, I paid tribute to our departed Pope on behalf of President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian people,” he wrote.
Other members of the delegation include the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji; Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah; and Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Ignatius Kaigama.
The Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the composition of the delegation in a statement on Friday.
According to him, the team would deliver a formal letter conveying President Tinubu’s condolences to the Acting Head of the Vatican.
Recall that Tinubu had earlier joined world leaders and the global Catholic community in mourning the revered pontiff, describing him as a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions.
Tinubu, in his condolence message, said the Pope’s passing, coming shortly after Easter, symbolised a sacred return to his Maker at a time of renewed hope for Christians.
Pope Francis died on Monday, 21 April 2025, at the age of 88.
According to the Vatican, the pontiff passed away at 7:35 a.m. in his residence at Santa Marta following a cerebral stroke that led to coma and “irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.”
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