President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja for Rome on Saturday following an invitation from Pope Leo XIV to attend the inaugural mass marking the beginning of his pontificate as the 267th Bishop of Rome and leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
The visit comes amid global attention on the Vatican following the recent death of Pope Francis on April 21, which led to the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the new pope — now Pope Leo XIV — by the Conclave of Cardinals after 27 days of mourning and deliberation.
In a personal invitation conveyed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Pope Leo XIV expressed the significance of Tinubu’s presence at a time when the world is “afflicted by many tensions and conflicts.” He also fondly recalled his diplomatic service in Lagos during the 1980s, describing Nigeria as a “great nation particularly dear to me.”
President’s Entourage:
President Tinubu will be accompanied by a high-profile Nigerian delegation, including:
- Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
- Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (Owerri)
- Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja
- Archbishop Alfred Martins of Lagos
- Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese
Event Details:
- Occasion: Papal Inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV
- Date: Sunday, May 18
- Venue: St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City
- Return Date: Tuesday, May 20
The historic event is expected to draw global leaders, Catholic faithful, and religious dignitaries from around the world, as the Vatican ushers in a new chapter under Pope Leo XIV’s leadership.
