President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Saturday for Rome, Italy, following an invitation from Pope Leo XIV to attend his formal inauguration as the 267th Bishop of Rome and leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
The historic event, a solemn mass marking the beginning of the new Pontificate, will take place on Sunday, May 18, at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
In the official invitation delivered by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the significance of President Tinubu’s presence, stating: “Your great nation is particularly dear to me as I worked in the Apostolic Nunciature in Lagos during the 1980s.” The Pope further highlighted the importance of global unity, calling it “a moment of particular importance for the Catholic Church and the world afflicted by many tensions and conflicts.”
President Tinubu’s delegation includes:
- Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
- Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria
- Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja
- Archbishop Alfred Martins of Lagos
- Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto Diocese
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, was elected by the Conclave of Cardinals 27 days after the passing of his predecessor, Pope Francis, on April 21.
President Tinubu is expected to return to Abuja on Tuesday, May 20.
