SATURDAY April 26, 2025 |
By thenewsdesk.ng
Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88 after a lengthy battle with health issues, has been lying in state at St. Peter’s Basilica since Wednesday, allowing the faithful to pay homage to his legacy.
Thousands have gathered in the streets leading into the basilica where Pope Francis rests in a simple wooden coffin adorned in traditional papal garb.
His passing has sparked an outpouring of grief, reflection and admiration for a leader whose messages of humility and compassion resonated across the globe.
The public has been given the opportunity to say their goodbyes leading up to today’s services, which are expected to attract more than 200,000 attendees, including numerous world leaders.
President Bola Tinubu sent a delegation to the Vatican City to attend the burial.
According to a statement by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga yesterday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio is at the head of the five-member delegation.
Other members of the government delegation are the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu; Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria; Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Archbishop Matthew Hassan Kukah; and Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Archbishop Ignatius Ayua Kaigama.
Additionally, the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Most Reverend Lucius Ugorji, will lead a delegation from Nigeria to pay their respect.
The National Director of Social Communications for the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Fr. Michael Nsikak Umoh, confirmed the delegation’s attendance, emphasising Pope Francis’s importance as a spiritual leader in Nigeria and beyond.
The federal government delegation will formally deliver a letter conveying President Tinubu’s sympathy and condolences to the acting head of the Vatican.
In the condolence message, President Tinubu remarked that Pope Francis’s death, coming just after the celebration of Christ’s resurrection, is a sacred return to his Maker at a time of renewed hope for Christians.
The funeral will start at 10:00 a.m. local time (4:00 a.m. ET) in St. Peter’s Square, a location synonymous with papal history. The ceremony will also be viewable via live streams and broadcasts, allowing millions to join in from afar.
Today’s funeral will mark the beginning of nine days of mourning, prayers and remembrance, reflecting the deep impact Pope Francis had on individuals and communities worldwide.
Following the service, a solemn procession will transport him to his burial site at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, a wish expressed in his final testament.
This choice represents a significant break from tradition, as many predecessors are laid to rest in the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica.
The Basilica of Saint Mary Major, perched atop the Esquiline Hill, is one of Rome’s four Papal Basilicas and is regarded as the largest Marian church in the city.
It houses the remains of seven popes, enhancing its status as a fitting final resting place for the pontiff.
In keeping with his principles of humility, Pope Francis requested to be buried in a simple wooden coffin, a stark contrast to the more elaborate caskets typically used for papal funerals.
The funeral ceremony will see a significant presence of global leaders wishing to honor Pope Francis.
U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to attend alongside first lady Melania Trump, who arrived in Rome yesterday morning. Representing the British royal family, Prince William will attend on behalf of King Charles III, along with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Notable attendees also include U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres; Javier Milei, president of Francis’s native Argentina; French President Emmanuel Macron; Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva; and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
As the world gathers to honour Pope Francis today, his lasting legacy of peace, compassion, and humility remains a beacon of hope for millions.
