The world has turned its solemn gaze to Vatican City today, as the funeral rites for Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88, officially commenced. St. Peter’s Square, a symbolic heart of Catholicism, has become a sea of mourners — from ordinary pilgrims to world leaders — all united in grief and reverence.
Among the dignitaries paying their respects are prominent figures such as former U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Britain’s Prince William. They joined throngs of mourners, filing past Pope Francis’ coffin laid inside the basilica before the commencement of the funeral Mass.
According to BBC reports, a distinguished roster of heads of state is in attendance, including the Presidents of France, Germany, Brazil, Poland, Ukraine, Argentina — the Pope’s native land — and the President of the European Commission. Britain’s Prime Minister, alongside the King and Queen of Belgium, also graced the event. Kensington Palace confirmed that the Prince of Wales is attending on behalf of King Charles III, who had met the Pope earlier this month during a visit to Rome.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, described Pope Francis as “a worldwide inspiration.” In an emotional tribute, she said, “He inspired millions, far beyond the Catholic Church, with his humility and a love so pure for the less fortunate.”
The solemn funeral Mass is being officiated by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals. A respected figure within the Vatican, the 91-year-old Italian prelate was ordained in 1957 and elevated to cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001. Pope Francis himself had extended Cardinal Re’s term earlier this year, a testament to his enduring influence.
Nigeria’s presence was marked by a high-powered delegation led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. According to a statement from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, the delegation also included Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji (President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria), Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto Diocese, and Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama of Abuja Diocese.
“The Nigerian delegation will formally deliver a letter conveying President Tinubu’s sympathy and condolences to the Acting Head of the Vatican,” Onanuga stated.
President Tinubu, in an earlier message, mourned the late pontiff as “a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions.” Reflecting on the poignant timing of Pope Francis’ passing — just a day after Easter Sunday — Tinubu noted that it “symbolises a sacred return to his Maker, offering renewed hope to Christians worldwide.”
Pope Francis’ death on April 21, 2025, shook not only the Catholic faithful but the entire globe. His legacy of humility, interfaith outreach, and unwavering commitment to the marginalized endures, as leaders and believers across continents gather to bid a final farewell to a spiritual giant whose influence transcended borders, faiths, and generations.
PIONEER NEWS 