Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has been invited to attend the official inauguration of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican this Sunday.
The newly elected Pope, the 267th leader of the Catholic Church, extended the invitation to President Tinubu, emphasizing the importance of his presence during this significant moment for the Church. The ceremony will take place at St. Peter’s Square in Rome.
In a statement by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the Vatican highlighted the strong diplomatic ties between Nigeria and the Holy See. Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, mentioned his personal connection to Nigeria, having served at the Apostolic Nunciature in Lagos during the 1980s.
“Your great nation is particularly dear to me,” the Pope said in the invitation signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin. He also noted the need for global unity amid ongoing conflicts worldwide.
President Tinubu will be accompanied by prominent Nigerian Catholic leaders, including Bishop Matthew Kukah of Sokoto, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji of Owerri, and other high-ranking clergy. The delegation will depart Nigeria on Saturday and return on Tuesday, May 20.
Pope Leo XIV was elected on May 8 after three rounds of voting by the College of Cardinals. His inauguration marks a historic moment for the Catholic Church as he begins his papal service.
