By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
NIGERIA’s SENATE President Godswill Akpabio is announced to be leading a five-member delegation to Vatican City to represent the country at the burial of His Holiness, Pope Francis.
The delegation, sent by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, carries a formal letter of condolence addressed to the Acting Head of the Vatican, conveying Nigeria’s sympathy over the Pontiff’s passing.
Joining Akpabio on the official mission are 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 of Sokoto Diocese; and Archbishop Ignatius Ayua Kaigama of Abuja Diocese.
Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Monday, 21 April 2025, aged 88, just a day after delivering his Easter Sunday blessing at St. Peter’s Basilica. His death has drawn mourning from across the world, particularly among the Catholic faithful and Christian communities.
Tinubu Mourns Pope
President Tinubu, through a condolence message released on Thursday, described the late Pontiff as “a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions.”
He emphasised that Pope Francis’s passing, shortly after Easter celebrations, symbolised a sacred return to his Maker at a time of renewed hope for Christians.
Reflecting on the Pontiff’s decade-long leadership, Tinubu recalled how Pope Francis stepped onto the global stage in 2013 with a powerful call for mercy, justice, and environmental stewardship.
He praised the Pope’s advocacy for migrants, refugees, and the marginalised, and noted his consistent challenge to the powerful to embrace compassion and fairness.
The President further highlighted the Pontiff’s pivotal role in bridging religious divides, defending the developing world, and offering spiritual clarity through his pastoral letters and encyclicals.
He noted that Pope Francis’s writings charted a path of renewal for humanity in an increasingly complex world.
In his 2025 Easter message, Tinubu expressed joy at seeing the Pontiff deliver the traditional Easter Sunday blessing, calling it a moment of global thanksgiving.
The Pope’s death, a day after that public appearance, was described by Tinubu as a great loss of one of the world’s staunchest voices for justice and climate action.
Tinubu calls on all to honour Pope Francis’s legacy by uplifting the downtrodden, healing broken communities, and defending human dignity.
