President Bola Tinubu will travel to the Vatican on Saturday to attend the official inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, following an invitation that highlights Nigeria’s significance to the Catholic Church.
- Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected following the death of Pope Francis on April 21.
- Tinubu will be joined by Nigerian Catholic leaders, including Archbishops Ugorji, Kaigama, Martins, and Bishop Kukah.
- The inauguration takes place at St. Peter’s Square on May 18; Tinubu returns to Abuja on May 20.
Pope Leo XIV, recalling his early missionary work in Lagos in the 1980s, emphasized the spiritual and diplomatic weight of Nigeria’s attendance. His invitation reflects longstanding ties between the Vatican and Nigeria’s growing Catholic community.
As global faith leaders gather in Rome, Tinubu’s presence could signal deeper diplomatic engagement with the Vatican. Will Nigeria’s international influence expand through more interfaith and global moral collaborations?
