President Bola Tinubu on Sunday met 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and ex-Ekiti State governor Kayode Fayemi at the Vatican during the installation of Pope Leo XIV.

The trio were among dignitaries who attended the inauguration mass held at St. Peter’s Square in Rome.

Tinubu led Nigeria’s delegation, which also included several Catholic leaders such as Archbishop Alfred Martins of Lagos, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji of Owerri and Bishop Matthew Kukah of Sokoto.

Obi and Fayemi, both staunch Catholics and Papal Knights, were seen exchanging pleasantries with the President at the ceremony.

Journalist Bayo Onanuga shared photos of their meeting on , along with the context behind it.

According to Onanuga, Fayemi spotted Tinubu seated among world leaders and invited Obi to join him in greeting the President.

“Mr. President, welcome to our church, and thank you for honouring the Pope with your presence,” Fayemi said.

Tinubu, in a lighthearted response, replied, “I should be the one welcoming you and Peter. I’m the Head of the Nigerian Delegation.”

Obi reportedly laughed and said, “Yes, indeed. We are members of your delegation.”

Tinubu arrived in Rome on Saturday for the event, which drew an estimated 200,000 attendees and representatives from over 150 countries.

He was received at the Mario De Bernardo Military Airport by officials of the Vatican and Nigerian embassy, alongside minister of state for foreign affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, became the first American pontiff and the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church.