Cotonou, Benin — Funeral of the late Bishop Nicolas Okioh of Natintingou diocese in Benin will take place Thursday in his native town of Dassa, sources close to the Archdiocese of Cotonou said Monday.

Bishop Okioh passed away 15 April at the age of 69. Pope John Paul II in 1984 appointed the former priest of Notre Dame de Fournier parish the first African bishop of Natintingou diocese, which, until then, was headed by white missionaries.

Due to ill health, Bishop Okioh retired early from his pastoral office and spent his last days in Dassa. A few months ago, however, he joined the Beninese clergy on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in Israel.

While there his condition deteriorated and he was admitted to hospital before returning to Benin where he died in a missionary hospital.