Pope Francis’ funeral: Akpabio, others arrive Vatican
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has arrived in Vatican City alongside other prominent Nigerian delegates ahead of the funeral ceremony of Pope Francis, scheduled to take place on Saturday.
The delegation, led by Akpabio, was appointed by President Bola Tinubu to represent Nigeria at the final rites of the late Pontiff.
The high-level group includes key religious and government figures.
Joining Akpabio are the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu; President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji; Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah; and Archbishop Ignatius Ayua Kaigama of Abuja.
In a Facebook post shared on Friday, Akpabio expressed the nation’s respect and condolences.
“As the Leader of Nigeria’s delegation to the burial ceremony of Pope Francis, I paid tribute to our departed Pope, on behalf of President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian People at the Lying-in-State of Pope Francis, inside St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City,” he wrote.
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