President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has joined global leaders and the Christian faithful in mourning the death of His Holiness, Pope Francis. In a statement, the President said the Pope’s passing—coming a day after delivering his Easter Sunday blessing—marks “a sacred return to his Maker at a time of renewed hope for Christians.”
Pope Francis, who ascended to the papacy in 2013, was widely regarded as a reformer and a voice for the vulnerable, the statement said.
Tinubu paid tribute to the Pontiff’s enduring moral leadership, recalling how he “stepped onto the global stage with a message of mercy, urging us to see the face of Christ in the marginalised, the refugees, the migrants, and the forgotten.”
The President noted the Pope’s persistent advocacy for justice, environmental stewardship, and interfaith unity, adding that “he challenged the powerful to act with justice, called nations to welcome the stranger, and reminded us that our common home—this Earth—is a gift we must protect for future generations.”
Pope Francis, he said, “was an instrument of peace who deeply embodied the message of Christ: love for God and love for humanity.” Tinubu praised the late Pontiff’s efforts to bridge divides in an era marked by global conflict and inequality, stating that “he built bridges between faiths and the rich and the poor.”
Highlighting the Pope’s attention to developing nations, the Nigerian leader acknowledged the Vatican’s consistent concern for regions facing instability and economic injustice. “He was a steadfast advocate for the developing world,” Tinubu remarked.
Tinubu also commended the Pope’s encyclicals and pastoral letters, which he described as “doctrinal and seminal… timely and relevant,” offering “spiritual clarity and hope in an increasingly complex world.”
Tinubu added that he had expressed gratitude for the Pope’s health in his Easter message and watched “his appearance to deliver the traditional Easter Sunday blessing in St. Peter’s Basilica.” The President said, “Alas, the Lord called him home a day after, making the world lose its most trenchant voice for justice and action against climate change.”
The Nigerian President urged citizens to honour the late Pope’s legacy through action. “Let us honour him not with words alone but with action: by lifting those who are down, healing our communities, and defending the dignity of every person."
“On behalf of the government and the people of Nigeria, I extend condolences to the Catholic Church, the global Catholic community, and the Christian faithful.
“May God Almighty grant His beloved servant eternal rest,” the statement added.
