It has been revealed that Senate President, David Mark, is to lead the Federal Government’s delegation to the formal installation of Pope Francis on Tuesday. This was made known in a statement issued by the presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, in Abuja, on Friday.
The statement said that President Goodluck Jonathan has given his approval for the composition of the delegation which includes the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah; Minister of State (Foreign Affairs), Professor Viola Onwuliri and the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama.
Other members of the delegation are the Chaplain of the Presidential Villa Chapel, Venerable Obioma Onwuzurumba, and the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Mr. John Kennedy Opara.
The statement also noted that, 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, to succeed Pope Benedict XVI.
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