Akpabio leads Nigeria’s delegation to Vatican for Pope Francis’ funeral

President Bola Tinubu has dispatched a five-member delegation to Vatican City to represent Nigeria at the funeral of His Holiness, Pope Francis, scheduled for Saturday, April 26.

Leading the high-level delegation is the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. Other members include the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu; the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji; the Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah; and the Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Ignatius Kaigama.

Pope Francis II, the revered leader of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away on Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, just a day after joining the faithful for Easter Sunday Mass at the Vatican.

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SENATE PRESIDENT AKPABIO LEADS NIGERIA’S DELEGATION TO POPE FRANCIS’ FUNERAL

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent a high-powered delegation to Vatican City to attend the burial of His Holiness, Pope Francis, on Saturday, April 26.

Senate President… pic.twitter.com/XGqFWFw1gA

— Bayo Onanuga (@aonanuga1956) April 25, 2025

The Nigerian delegation is also expected to deliver a condolence letter from President Tinubu to the Acting Head of the Vatican, expressing the nation’s sympathies over the Pope’s passing.

Earlier on Monday, President Tinubu had joined Catholics and Christians across the world in mourning the late Pontiff, describing him as “a humble servant of God, a tireless defender of the poor, and a beacon of hope to millions.”

Ifeoma Nwovu