The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88. In a formal message, NACA’s Director General, Dr. Temitope Ilori, offered heartfelt condolences to the Vatican, the Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria, the Community of Sant’Egidio, and Catholics around the world.
Dr. Ilori acknowledged Pope Francis as a remarkable figure whose commitment to love, mercy, equity, and justice reached far beyond the Church. She described him as a global voice for the vulnerable and a strong supporter of efforts to combat HIV and AIDS. His moral leadership, she said, encouraged humanity to approach public health with empathy and dignity.
Dr. Ilori added that Pope Francis consistently called for compassion and inclusion, values that continue to guide global efforts in healthcare and social justice. She emphasized that his legacy would live on as a source of inspiration in the fight against inequality and disease.
Pope Francis was the 266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church and the first pontiff from Latin America. Reports indicate he died of a stroke and heart failure following a five-week hospitalization for pneumonia at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
