15th March, 2013
President Goodluck Jonathan has approved that Nigeria be represented by a delegation headed by the Senate President, Senator David Mark at the formal installation of Pope Francis on Tuesday, 19 March.
Other members of the delegation, according to a statement by Dr. Rueben Abati, special adviser to the president, are the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, the Minister of State (Foreign Affairs), Prof. Viola Onwuliri and the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama.
The delegation also includes the Chaplain of the Presidential Villa Chapel, Venerable Obioma Onwuzurumba and the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Mr. John Kennedy Opara.
In addition to attending the new Pope’s inauguration mass at the Vatican City, the delegation will also convey a congratulatory letter from President Jonathan to Pope Francis who was elected by the College of Cardinals on Wednesday, March 13, to succeed Pope Benedict XVI.