Senate President Godswill Akpabio has been appointed by President Bola Tinubu to lead Nigeria’s five-member delegation to the funeral of Pope Francis, scheduled for Saturday, 26 April.
In a statement issued on Friday, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, announced that the delegation also includes the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu; Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria; Archbishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese; and Archbishop Ignatius Ayua Kaigama of the Abuja Diocese.
Pope Francis, the revered head of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away on Monday, 21 April 2025, at the age of 88—just a day after presiding over Easter Sunday celebrations at the Vatican.
The Nigerian delegation will formally present a letter of condolence from Tinubu to the Acting Head of the Vatican, expressing the nation’s sympathy on the passing of the Pontiff.
READ ALSO: Pope Francis leaves Rome hospital after 5 weeks admission
On Monday, President Tinubu joined Catholics and Christians around the world in mourning Francis, whom he described as “a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions.”
In his condolence message, the President remarked that the timing of Francis’ passing—shortly after the celebration of Christ’s resurrection—signified a sacred return to his Maker at a moment of renewed hope for Christians globally.
The funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. local time in St Peter’s Square, Rome.
The outdoor Mass will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, and is expected to draw dignitaries from over 170 countries, along with tens of thousands of mourners.
The New Daily Prime gathered that approximately 50,000 people attended the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI—Francis’ immediate predecessor—held at the same location in January 2023.
READ ALSO: Pope Francis dies at 88: Vatican enters mourning, funeral to take place Saturday
In the days leading up to Francis’ funeral, tens of thousands have queued to pay their final respects.
His body lay in state in an open wooden coffin at St Peter’s Basilica from Wednesday morning.
By Friday morning, over 130,000 people had filed past the coffin.
