Julius OkorieSenate President, Godswill Akpabio leads a high-level Nigerian delegation as the world gathers this morning in Rome for the funeral of Late Pope Francis.
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made this known in statement released on Friday.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAccording to the statement, other members of the delegation include the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Archbishop Matthew Hassan Kukah and Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Archbishop Ignatius Ayua Kaigama.
The statement added, “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.
Recall that on Monday, President Tinubu joined the Catholic faithful and Christians worldwide to mourn the death of Pope Francis, describing him as ‘a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions.’”
Tinubu added that the Pope’s death, coming after the celebration of Christ’s resurrection, symbolises a sacred return to his Maker, offering renewed hope to Christians worldwide.
Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, just a day after leading Easter Sunday celebrations at the Vatican. His passing on Galilee day was equally symbolic as he appeared to have followed Christ directive to his disciples to meet him in Galilee after his resurrection. Pope Francis died in the early hours of Monday a day after Easter Sunday observed as Galilee day.
Meanwhile, Pope Francis’ coffin was sealed during a liturgical rite held in St. Peter’s Basilica Friday nightat 8:00 PM
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, presided at the Rite of Sealing of the Coffin of the late Pope Francis, ahead of the papal funeral which begins at 10am this morning. The liturgical rite was attended by several Cardinals and Holy See officials.
It marked the end of public viewing in St. Peter’s Basilica, which has seen tens of thousands of people pay, their respects to the late Pope.
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The Office for the Liturgical Celebrations requested the presence at the Rite of Sealing of the Coffin on Friday of Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re, Pietro Parolin, Roger Mahony, Domenique Mamberti, Mauro Gambetti, Baldassare Reina, and Konrad Krajewski.
Those who assisted in the rite also include Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, Archbishop Ilson de Jesus Montanari, Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza, the Canons of the Vatican Chapter, the Ordinary Minor Penitentiaries of the Vatican, the late Pope’s secretaries, and others admitted by the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, Archbishop Diego Ravelli.
Pope Francis’ funeral Mass will take place this morning at 10:00 AM in St. Peter’s Square, marking the beginning of the Novemdiales, an ancient tradition of nine days of mourning and Masses for the repose of the late Pope’s soul.
The Novemdiales Masses will be held each day at 5:00 PM (GMT +2) in St. Peter’s Basilica, except for the Mass on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 27, which will take place at 10:30 AM in St. Peter’s Square.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
