President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja for Rome, the capital of Italy, on Saturday at the invitation of Pope Leo XIV.

The presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, stating that the Pope’s invitation was conveyed through Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, on behalf of His Holiness.

“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,” Onanuga stated.

Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, will be formally installed as the 267th Bishop of Rome on Sunday, May 18, at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.

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

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.

He also noted that Tinubu is expected to return to Abuja on Tuesday, May 20.