President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will leave Abuja, on Saturday, for Rome, Italy, to participate in the inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV, in response to an official invitation from the Vatican.
The newly appointed Pope, who was previously known as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, will officially become the 267th Bishop of Rome during a Mass at St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, May 18.
This event signifies the formal commencement of his papacy, following the death of Pope Francis on April 21 and his subsequent selection by the College of Cardinals.
In a correspondence from Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Pope Leo XIV articulated a heartfelt wish for President Tinubu’s attendance at what he termed “a moment of great significance for the Catholic Church and the world experiencing various tensions and conflicts.”
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The Pope also reminisced about his past connection with Nigeria, mentioning his experience at the Apostolic Nunciature in Lagos during the 1980s.
“Your wonderful country holds a special place in my heart,” he remarked.
President Tinubu will be accompanied by a the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, who leads the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria and serves as the Archbishop of Owerri; Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja; Archbishop Alfred Martins of Lagos; and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah from the Sokoto Diocese.
The President is anticipated to arrive back in Abuja on Tuesday, May 20.
