Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has provided insight into Pope Leo XIV’s reason for inviting President Bola Tinubu to Rome.
President Tinubu left Abuja for Rome on Saturday to attend a solemn mass marking the beginning of Pope Leo XIV’s Pontificate. The invitation, extended through Cardinal Pietro Parolin, emphasised the importance of the Nigerian leader’s physical presence at the event.
Speaking from Rome on NTA Weekend File shortly after the President’s arrival, Mrs. Ojukwu highlighted the longstanding ties between Pope Leo XIV and Nigeria. The Pope, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, served as Prior General of the Augustinian Order from 2001 to 2013 and has visited Nigeria multiple times. Even before his elevation to the papacy, Prevost maintained strong connections with the country.
“He was invited to Abuja in 2016 for the Mid-Chapter Assembly of the Nigerian Augustinians while serving as Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru,” Ojukwu said. “He was also expected to visit Nigeria in July this year for the ordination of new priests.”
Ojukwu noted that Nigeria has one of the fastest-growing Catholic populations worldwide, and Pope Leo XIV is familiar with communities in cities like Abuja and Maiduguri.
She explained the significance of the Papal invitation and President Tinubu’s attendance for Nigeria-Vatican relations:
“Of course, the new pontiff is the spiritual leader of over 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide. As he has mentioned, we live in a world marked by tensions, conflicts, and unrest.
“Nigeria’s Catholic community understands the importance and stabilising role the pontiff can play in global affairs.
“We appreciate that he considers Nigeria an important country in Africa, being the continent’s most populous nation.
“With the President’s foreign policy focused on peace across Africa and promoting religious tolerance within Nigeria, it is particularly notable that, despite being a Muslim, he accepted this invitation to join the Pontifical mass.
“This reflects his approach to being a president for all Nigerians, regardless of creed or religious affiliation.”
President Tinubu was accompanied by prominent Catholic leaders, including Archbishop Lucius Ugorji of Owerri, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria; Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja; Archbishop Alfred Martins of Lagos; and Bishop Matthew Kukah of Sokoto Diocese.
The visit underscores ongoing efforts to strengthen diplomatic and religious ties between Nigeria and the Vatican.
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