President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Rome, Italy, ahead of the solemn Mass marking the commencement of the Pontificate of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV—the 267th Bishop of Rome and new leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
The installation Mass is scheduled to hold on Sunday, May 18.
Tinubu’s aircraft landed at the Mario De Bernardo Military Airport at exactly 6:00 p.m. local time, where he was warmly received by Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, along with Vatican and Nigerian Embassy officials.
The President’s visit follows a formal invitation from the Vatican, extended through Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State, urging Tinubu’s presence at a time the Catholic Church and the world face numerous tensions and conflicts.
Pope Leo XIV, in his message, noted his deep connection with Nigeria, recalling his service at the Apostolic Nunciature in Lagos during the 1980s, and described the country as “particularly dear” to him.
Accompanying President Tinubu on this high-level visit are notable Nigerian Catholic leaders including Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria; Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja; Archbishop Alfred Martins of Lagos; and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto Diocese.
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