President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will travel to Rome, Italy, on Saturday, May 18, 2025, to attend the official inauguration of Pope Leo XIV following an invitation extended by the Holy See.
The Vatican event, which will take place at St. Peter’s Square, signifies the commencement of the pontificate of the 267th Bishop of Rome and the first-ever American to be elected as Pope.
The President’s attendance at the historic occasion aligns with Nigeria’s continued engagement with global religious and diplomatic institutions.
His participation further underscores the long-standing relationship between Nigeria and the Vatican.
The invitation was formally conveyed to President Tinubu through Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, on behalf of the new pontiff.
The letter emphasized the significance of Tinubu’s presence at a time the global Catholic Church is navigating heightened geopolitical and humanitarian challenges.
“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,” the statement from the presidency reads.
The Pope also acknowledged his deep familiarity with Nigeria, referencing his past diplomatic service in Lagos during the 1980s.
“Your great nation is particularly dear to me as I worked in the Apostolic Nunciature in Lagos,” Pope Leo XIV noted.
The visit is expected to further solidify diplomatic and cultural ties between Nigeria and the Vatican. It also reflects Nigeria’s strategic participation in global multilateral affairs and interfaith engagement at the highest levels.
President Tinubu will be accompanied by a delegation including the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and senior figures from the Catholic Church in Nigeria. These include Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria and Archbishop of Owerri, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja, and Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins of Lagos.
The week-long Vatican ceremonies will involve high-level engagements between Pope Leo XIV and global leaders, including heads of state, cardinals, diplomats and international media representatives.
Pope Leo XIV was elected on May 8, 2025, following a brief conclave and is widely expected to pursue reformist policies, given his American background and prior emphasis on conflict resolution and humanitarian outreach.
The Nigerian presidency described the invitation and the Pope’s acknowledgment of his ties to the country as a diplomatic milestone and a recognition of Nigeria’s relevance in global religious diplomacy.
The Vatican remains an influential spiritual and diplomatic entity with global reach, and Nigeria’s participation in such a high-profile inaugural event reinforces its international visibility and the importance of intergovernmental and interfaith collaboration.
