President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja for Rome, Italy, on Saturday to attend a solemn mass at St. Peter’s Square marking the beginning of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate as the newly elected 267th Bishop of Rome.
The historic event, scheduled for Sunday, May 18, follows the election of Pope Leo XIV by the Conclave of Cardinals, 27 days after Pope Francis’s death on April 21.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed the visit in a statement, revealing that President Tinubu’s trip is at the Pope’s personal invitation.
Nigeria Holds Special Place in Pope’s Heart
In the formal invitation, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, conveyed the Pope’s deep affection for Nigeria, referencing his time working at the Apostolic Nunciature in Lagos during the 1980s.
“Your great nation is particularly dear to me… Your presence at this moment of particular importance for the Catholic Church and the world afflicted by many tensions and conflicts is invaluable,” Pope Leo XIV said.
The Pope emphasized Nigeria’s influential role in global religious and diplomatic affairs, expressing a desire for stronger ties between the Vatican and Nigeria.
Tinubu to Be Accompanied by Top Catholic Leaders
President Tinubu will be joined by a high-level delegation of Catholic leaders and government officials, including:
-
Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
-
Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria
-
Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja
-
Archbishop Alfred Martins of Lagos
-
Bishop Mathew Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese
Their presence underscores Nigeria’s active engagement in global religious diplomacy and the strong historical ties between the nation and the Catholic Church.
