Joining Catholic and d Christians around the world in mourning his passing, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu pays a heartfelt tribute to Pope Francis.

In an emotional statement released on Monday President Tinubu hailed Pope Francis as a moral force who used his global influence to challenge the powerful, defend the marginalized, and urge nations to welcome the stranger.

President Tinubu also describes the pontiff as humble servant of God and a tireless champion of the poor, highlighting his legacy of compassion, and a bridge building across faiths.

Tinubu reflected on the symbolic timing of the Pope’s death as a sacred return to his Maker and called on Nigerians and the global community to honour the Pope not just in words, but through acts of mercy, justice, and unity.

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, passed away on Sunday April 20, 2025, a day after delivering his final public appearance in St. Peter’s Basilica on Easter Sunday. He was 88.

Since his election as the first Jesuit and Latin American pope in 2013, Pope Francis had positioned himself as a moral leader unafraid to confront global inequality.