President Tinubu To Attend Pope Leo XIV's Inauguration In Italy

Published 23 hours ago• 2 minute read

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Saturday for Rome, Italy, to attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV as the new head of the Roman Catholic Church.

The visit was confirmed in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

Mr. Onanuga noted that Tinubu is travelling at the invitation of the Vatican and will lead Nigeria’s delegation to the solemn installation mass scheduled for Sunday, May 18th, 2025 at St. Peter’s Square.

He said: “Accompanied by top Catholic leaders, President Tinubu will attend a solemn mass marking the beginning of the Pontificate of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, the 267th Bishop of Rome and the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

“In the Papal invitation sent by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Pope Leo XIV underscored the need for President Tinubu’s physical presence “at this moment of particular importance for the Catholic Church and the world afflicted by many tensions and conflicts.

“President Tinubu’s entourage includes the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Archbishop of Owerri and President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja, and Alfred Martins of Lagos.

“The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah, is also in the president’s entourage. Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, will be formally installed to the exalted office on Sunday, May 18, at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.

“The Conclave of Cardinals elected him 27 days after his predecessor, Pope Francis, died on April 21.”

The inauguration marks the formal beginning of the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, the 267th Bishop of Rome.

He succeeds Pope Francis, who died on April 21. Pope Leo, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, was elected by the Conclave of Cardinals 27 days later.President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Saturday for Rome, Italy, to attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV as the new head of the Roman Catholic Church.