The delegation will deliver a condolence letter from President Tinubu to the Acting Head of the Vatican.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Senate President Godswill Akpabio to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the funeral of Pope Francis, scheduled to hold on Saturday, April 26, in Vatican City.
The Senate president has already arrived at in Rome for the event.
A statement from the State House on Friday listed other members of the delegation as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu; President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji; Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah; and Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Ignatius Ayua Kaigama.
Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Monday, April 21, at the age of 88, just a day after participating in Easter Sunday celebrations.
According to the statement signed by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the delegation will deliver a condolence letter from President Tinubu to the Acting Head of the Vatican.
In his earlier tribute, President Tinubu described the late pontiff as “a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions,” noting that his passing, shortly after Easter, symbolised a sacred return to his Maker.