President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will travel to Rome, Italy, on Saturday to attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV. Tinubu has been invited by the new Pope himself, who succeeded Pope Francis after his death in April.
The official event will take place on Sunday, May 18, at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican. President Tinubu, along with a delegation of top Catholic leaders, will participate in a solemn mass marking the beginning of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate.
In a letter sent by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Pope Leo XIV highlighted the importance of President Tinubu’s presence, noting that the Catholic Church is going through a critical time amidst global challenges. The Pope also expressed personal ties with Nigeria, recalling his time working in the Apostolic Nunciature in Lagos during the 1980s.
Accompanying President Tinubu are several key figures, including the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and prominent Nigerian Catholic leaders like Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, and Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto Diocese.
The new Pope, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, was elected by the Conclave of Cardinals just 27 days after Pope Francis’ passing. Tinubu is expected to return to Abuja on Tuesday, May 20.
