WATCH THE VIDEO HERE According to a statement released on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the delegation will be headed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Joining Akpabio are the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji; Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese; and Archbishop Ignatius Ayua Kaigama of the Abuja Diocese. “The delegation will formally deliver a letter conveying President Tinubu’s sympathy and condolences on Pope Francis’ passing to the Acting Head of the Vatican,” the statement noted. Earlier on Monday, President Tinubu issued a condolence message in which he described the late Pontiff as “a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions.” Naijaonpoint reports that Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, made history as the first pontiff from Latin America. Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, just one day after leading Easter Sunday celebrations.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the composition of a five-member delegation that will represent Nigeria at the funeral of Pope Francis, which is set to take place this Saturday in Vatican City.