The Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea delivered the Pope’s condolence message at the funeral in Kumbo.

The mother of Cardinal Tumi Christian Wighan, Yaah Tumi Catherine La’aka, who died on June 8, 2015 in Shisong Catholic Hospital, was on June 27, 2015, buried in the Kumbo Cathedral Cemetery in Bui Division of the North West Region.

The burial took place after a funeral mass in the Kumbo Cathedral church by 15 Archbishops and Bishops, assisted by over 100 priests. The mass, presided over by Cardinal Tumi Christian Wighan, was attended by a mammoth crowd of mourners and sympathizers, including the Governor of the North West Region,  Lele l’Afrique Deben Tchoffo Adolphe, the Senior Divisional Officer for Bui, Nzeki Theophile, political leaders, parliamentarians, local administrators and Mayors. Before the funeral mass started, the Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, His Excellency Pierro Pioppo, delivered two condolence messages to Cardinal Tumi Christian Wighan. One was from Pope Francis I and the other from the Prefect of the Congregation of the Propagation of Faith at the Vatican.

After the mass, the Governor decorated late Yaa Tumi Catherine La’aka posthumously with the Officer of the Cameroon Order of Merit medal. The Bishop of Kumbo Diocese, His Lordship George Nkuo, said the deceased, who was born in 1897, lived through the 19^th and 21^st centuries and was certainly the oldest human being in the world after another person who died at the age of 115 years. Mama Tumi Catherine La’aka, who died at the age of 118. She leaves behind over 180 grand children, great grand children and great-great grand-children. The Archbishop of Douala His Grace Kleda Samuel, who led a delegation from the Douala Archdiocese where Cardinal Tumi retired, also presented a message of condolence to him.

Cardinal Tumi thanked President Paul Biya who was among the first people to send him a message of condolence on learning of the death of his mother. He also commended the Bishop of Kumbo George Nkuo for the material help given to his mother since his arrival in Kumbo. He said it was his wish to bury his mother in Kikaikelaki village but for the Bishop of Kumbo and the Archbishop of Bamenda. He was also thankful to the Archbishop of Douala and his Christians for the money always sent through him to give the mother when he was on leave.