President Bola Tinubu; former President Muhammadu Buhari; the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in 2023, Mr. Peter Obi; Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas; his Kogi State counterpart, Ahmed Ododo; Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have all joined Catholic faithful across the world to mourn the death of Pope France.
Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died yesterday, Easter Monday, at the age of 88, at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta, following a period of illness marked by a recent recovery from pneumonia. His passing was announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936, he was elected Pope on March 13, 2013, after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.
President Tinubu had expressed deep sorrow over the death, describing the late pontiff as a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a beacon of hope for millions worldwide.
In his statement, Tinubu said he joins Catholics and Christians globally in mourning the Pope’s death, noting the significance of his passing just after the celebration of Christ’s resurrection.
He praised Pope Francis’ unwavering advocacy for the marginalised, refugees and migrants, as well as his calls for justice, environmental protection and interfaith unity.
Tinubu highlighted the Pope’s efforts to bridge divides, promote peace and speak out against economic injustice, especially in the developing world. He also reflected on the Pope’s influential encyclicals and pastoral letters, which offered spiritual clarity and hope amid global challenges.
Recalling his 2025 Easter message, President Tinubu said he was grateful to have witnessed the Pope deliver the traditional Easter blessing, just a day before his passing. He described Pope Francis as the world’s most trenchant voice for justice and action against climate change.
He also extended his condolences to the Catholic Church, the global Catholic community and all Christians, urging Nigerians and the world to honour the late pontiff’s legacy through actions that uplift the vulnerable and defend human dignity. “May God Almighty grant His beloved servant eternal rest,” Tinubu concluded.
•The poor and migrants have lost a friend –Buhari
Former president Muhammadu Buhari also joined Christians across the world to mourn the demise of Pope Francis.
The former president said Christians in Nigeria and all over the world would miss the exemplary leadership of the church by a Pope, who served the poor and the weak, and cared much about migrants and refugees.
“He was a Pope who strove to build a beneficial, complementary relationship between the followers of the world’s two greatest religions, Islam and Christianity.
“Just hours before his demise, he made a call for an end to the war in Gazzah. I hope Israel and Hamas will head his this call as a final respect to the Pope who had the distinction of bringing climate change to the Vatican and recognising the Palestinian State,” said the former president.
The former president wished for a new leader who would build on the inspiring legacies of Pope Francis.
•He had a deep concern for the poor –Obi
In the same vein, Obi described the late Pope as a moral compass in a troubled world, who had a deep concern for the poor.
In a condolence message to the Universal Church, the bishops, priests, religious and faithful, Obi said the 88-year-old Pontiff left a lasting legacy in his reformative tenure.
Writing on his X handle yesterday, Obi said: “I received with profound sorrow the news of the passing of the Holy Father, Pope Francis. His death marks the end of another era in the spiritual and moral leadership of the Catholic Church and the wider world.
“Throughout his life and pontificate, during which I had the privilege of meeting him on three occasions, Pope Francis embodied the virtues of faith, hope and compassion. He led with humility, spoke with wisdom and acted with moral courage. He constantly strove to draw humanity closer to the ideals of peace, justice and love. His deep concern for the poor, his steadfast advocacy for moral leadership and his defence of human dignity earned him the admiration of people across all faiths and nations.
“As a member of the Scholas Occurrences Foundation, founded by Pope Francis, I deeply appreciate his belief in education, dialogue and youth empowerment as vital instruments for building a more just and compassionate world.
“Pope Francis devoted his life to the service of God and humanity. His legacy will live on not only in the hearts of the faithful but also in the global conscience he helped shape with grace, clarity and conviction. In an age marked by division and uncertainty, his voice remained a steady call to unity, mercy and justice.
“On behalf of myself, my family and millions of Nigerians who found inspiration in his teachings and example, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the universal Church. May God, in His infinite mercy, grant eternal rest to his gentle soul and guide the Church he so lovingly shepherded.”
•True servant of Christ and man of the people –Gov Kefas
Governor Kefas equally commiserated with the Catholic community in the state and the country over the Pontiff’s death yesterday.
In a statement by his SA on Media and Digital Communication, Emmanuel Bello, Kefas said the late Pope was, in every way, a true servant of Christ and a man of the people.
He noted that his strong voice against injustice and oppression would be greatly missed at a time when it is most needed.
“I received the news of the demise of leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, this morning with a very heavy heart. Pope Francis was a great man of the people, a champion for peace who promoted inter-religious engagement.
“His death, sadly, comes at a time his strong voice against injustice and suppression is needed the most. He was a voice for peace, tolerance and reconciliation.
“I sincerely commiserate with the Catholic community in our dear state, country and indeed, the world over this irreparable loss. May God rest his soul,” the statement read in parts.
•True servant of Christ and man of the people –Gov Kefas
Governor Kefas equally commiserated with the Catholic community in the state and the country over the Pontiff’s death yesterday.
In a statement by his SA on Media and Digital Communication, Emmanuel Bello, Kefas said the late Pope was, in every way, a true servant of Christ and a man of the people.
He noted that his strong voice against injustice and oppression would be greatly missed at a time when it is most needed.
“I received the news of the demise of leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, this morning with a very heavy heart. Pope Francis was a great man of the people, a champion for peace who promoted inter-religious engagement.
“His death, sadly, comes at a time his strong voice against injustice and suppression is needed the most. He was a voice for peace, tolerance and reconciliation.
“I sincerely commiserate with the Catholic community in our dear state, country and indeed, the world over this irreparable loss. May God rest his soul,” the statement read in parts.
•A towering figure whose humanity resonated across continents –Gov Ododo
Also, Gov Ododo, on behalf of the Government and the people of Kogi State joined millions of Catholic faithful and Christians around the world to mourn the passing of His Holiness, Pope Francis.
In statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, the governor said: “On behalf of the Government and the good people of Kogi State, Alhaji Usman Ododo, the Chief Servant of the state, extends his deepest condolences to the Vatican, the global Catholic community, and indeed, all people of faith, who are touched by this profound loss.
“His Holiness, Pope Francis, was a towering figure, whose moral clarity, humility and unwavering commitment to peace and humanity resonated across continents. He was not only a spiritual shepherd to over a billion Catholics, but also a tireless advocate for justice, compassion and the dignity of the human person. His voice rang clear in times of crisis, calling the world to higher ideals and deeper reflection.
“His Excellency, Ododo remembers Pope Francis as a rare beacon of hope and healing in a world often threatened by division and strife. His life was a testament to the power of faith, unity and love for mankind.
“As the world bids farewell to this great leader, we pray that his legacy will continue to inspire global efforts toward peace, dialogue, and mutual understanding. May his soul rest in peace.”
•A beacon of hope, peace and humility –Sen Kalu
Also, the representing Abia North, Kalu in a statement described Pope Francis as a beacon of hope, peace and humility, whose papacy touched billions of lives across the globe.
“The passing of Pope Francis is a monumental loss to the Christian faith and the world at large. He was a true shepherd of peace, love and compassion. His messages of unity and selfless service resonated deeply with both the faithful and those outside the Catholic Church,” Senator Kalu said.
The lawmaker, who is a devout Catholic, recalled the Pope’s commitment to justice, inclusion and service to humanity, noting that his teachings would continue to guide the church and the world for generations to come.
“As we mourn the loss of this great spiritual leader, we pray for the repose of his soul and for strength to the global Catholic community during this difficult time,” he added.
Kalu extended his condolences to the Vatican, the Catholic faithful and all those touched by the exemplary life and ministry of the late Pontiff.
•Champion of mercy, justice –CAN
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has equally described the late Pope Francis as a champion of mercy and justice, who touched the world and humanity with his humility and love.
CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, in a statement, yesterday, said it’s with deep sorrow that CAN mourns the passing of the His Holiness, Pope Francis, who departed this life at the age of 88 yesterday.
He extended CAN’s heartfelt condolences to the Catholic Church and to all who held dear his extraordinary leadership and boundless compassion.
He said: “Pope Francis was a towering figure of faith, whose papacy radiated mercy, justice and a profound love for humanity. His legacy left an indelible mark on Nigeria, where he strengthened the Church by appointing Nigerian bishops and cardinals, affirming the vibrant faith of our people.
“His unwavering commitment to interfaith dialogue brought hope for peace in our diverse nation, nurturing unity in the face of many challenges, while his outspoken advocacy against poverty, corruption and inequality deeply resonated with us, urging all to uphold the dignity of every Nigerian.”
The CAN President said that though the late Pope never visited Nigeria, his pastoral journeys across Africa conveyed powerful messages of solidarity, adding that his teachings enriched the spiritual lives, addressing vital issues such as environmental stewardship and the sanctity of family life.
“As we bid farewell to this devoted servant of God, we pray for the peaceful repose of his soul and for the Catholic Church in this time of transition. May the legacy of Pope Francis, rooted in compassion, justice and humility, continue to inspire us as we strive towards a more united and righteous Nigeria,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pope Francis’ death certificate released by the Vatican said he died in his apartment at 7:35 a.m. from cerebral stroke, coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.
“He was also affected by previous episode of acute respiratory failure in bilateral multimicrobial pneumonia, multiple bronchiectasis, arterial hypertension and type II diabetes,” according to the death certificate.
Credit: The Sun