ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu will travel to Rome, Italy, on Saturday, May 17, 2025, to attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, following a formal invitation from the newly elected head of the Catholic Church.
The ceremony, which marks the official commencement of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate as the 267th Bishop of Rome, is scheduled for Sunday, May 18, 2025, at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican. It is expected to draw leaders and dignitaries from across the globe.
In a statement released on Thursday, May 15, 2025, by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, the Nigerian presidency said Tinubu’s attendance underscores the longstanding and cordial diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the Holy See.
“In the Papal invitation sent by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 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 said.
Pope Leo XIV also noted a personal connection to Nigeria, writing: “Your great nation is particularly dear to me as I worked in the Apostolic Nunciature in Lagos during the 1980s.”
President Tinubu will be accompanied by a delegation that includes Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria and Archbishop of Owerri, Lucius Ugorji; Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja; and Archbishop Alfred Martins of Lagos.
Pope Leo XIV, who was elected on Friday, May 8, 2025, after a brief conclave, made history as the first American to ascend to the papacy.
His election comes at a time of global uncertainty, with the Church positioning itself as a moral voice in international affairs.
The week-long inauguration events will feature meetings between the new pope and world leaders, cardinals, diplomats, and journalists.
Tinubu’s presence is seen as a significant gesture, particularly given Nigeria’s large Catholic population and the Church’s influential role in the country’s education, healthcare, and social sectors.
The Vatican visit is also expected to include bilateral discussions with Church officials on matters of mutual concern, including peacebuilding, humanitarian issues, and interreligious dialogue.
