President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to travel to Rome, Italy, to attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV. The ceremony, a significant event for the Catholic Church, will take place at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
The invitation, extended by Pope Leo XIV, highlights the importance of President Tinubu’s presence during this time of global tension. The Pope also expressed a personal connection to Nigeria, having worked in Lagos in the 1980s.
The event is expected to draw a large number of world leaders, diplomats, and religious figures. President Tinubu’s delegation includes:
- Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
- Archbishop Lucius Ugorji: Archbishop of Owerri and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria.
- Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama: Archbishop of Abuja.
- Archbishop Alfred Martins: Archbishop of Lagos.
- Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah: Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese.
This attendance signifies the strong relationship between Nigeria and the Vatican. The inauguration mass, marking the formal beginning of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate, will be held on Sunday, May 18th. President Tinubu is scheduled to return to Abuja on Tuesday, May 20th.