President Bola Ahmed Tinubu arrived in Rome on Saturday at the special invitation of Pope Leo XIV to attend a solemn mass marking the beginning of the new pontiff’s leadership as the 267th Bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church.
The President, who departed Abuja with a high-ranking delegation of Catholic clergy including Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, Archbishop Alfred Martins, and Bishop Matthew Kukah, is participating in a series of ceremonial events underscoring Nigeria’s growing influence in the global Catholic community.
According to Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the invitation—personally delivered through Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State—emphasized the importance of President Tinubu’s physical presence. Speaking on NTA’s Weekend File from Rome shortly after the President’s arrival, Mrs. Ojukwu revealed that the Pope’s longstanding relationship with Nigeria was a key factor in extending the invitation.
“Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, is not a stranger to Nigeria. He has walked the streets of Abuja and Maiduguri, visited the chapels, and engaged deeply with the Nigerian Catholic community over the years,” she said.
As Prior General of the Augustinian Order from 2001 to 2013, Fr. Prevost visited Nigeria nine times. Even after taking on new roles in Peru and eventually ascending to the College of Cardinals, his ties with Nigeria remained strong. He was even expected to visit Nigeria later this year before his unexpected elevation to the papacy.
Mrs. Ojukwu highlighted the significance of the moment: “Nigeria accounts for one of the fastest-growing Catholic populations in the world. That Pope Leo XIV sees Nigeria as a central spiritual and geopolitical player in the African region reflects a profound mutual respect.”
She further noted the broader implications of the visit, pointing out that President Tinubu’s acceptance of the invitation—despite being a Muslim—was a powerful message of religious tolerance and inclusivity.
“It says a lot about his approach to ensuring that he’s a president for all Nigerians, irrespective of creed or religious affiliations. At a time of global unrest, this gesture will resonate deeply, both at home and abroad,” she added.
President Tinubu’s participation is expected to bolster Nigeria’s diplomatic standing with the Holy See and pave the way for stronger Vatican-Africa relations. The solemn mass and associated events continue throughout the weekend in Rome.
