President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Rome, Italy, to attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, the newly elected head of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Nigerian president touched down at a military airport in Rome on Saturday, ahead of a solemn mass scheduled for Sunday at Vatican City. The mass marks the official commencement of Pope Leo XIV’s Pontificate.
According to a statement from the Nigerian presidency, the visit follows a personal invitation from the Vatican, delivered by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, on behalf of the Pope.
The Vatican letter described Tinubu’s presence as “significant at this moment of particular importance for the Catholic Church and the world afflicted by many tensions and conflicts.”
In a warm message to Tinubu, Pope Leo XIV reflected on his time in Lagos during the 1980s, when he served at the Apostolic Nunciature, stating:
“Your great nation is particularly dear to me.”
The president is accompanied by a high-level Nigerian delegation, including:
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Bianca Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
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Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria
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Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, Archdiocese of Abuja
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Archbishop Alfred Martins, Archdiocese of Lagos
The high-profile event is expected to attract world leaders, diplomats, and religious figures as Pope Leo XIV officially assumes the position of 267th Bishop of Rome and spiritual leader of over 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide.
