By Abdul Lauya
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will travel to Rome on Saturday to attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV.
The president’s visit comes at the invitation of the newly elected pontiff, who will be formally installed on Sunday, May 18, at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, was elected 27 days after the death of Pope Francis on April 21.
In an invitation conveyed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pope emphasized the significance of Tinubu’s presence at this crucial moment for the Church and a world facing numerous crises.
Pope Leo also recalled his past service in Nigeria, noting that the country holds a special place in his heart due to his time at the Apostolic Nunciature in Lagos during the 1980s.
Tinubu will be accompanied by several key figures, including Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
Also on the delegation are Archbishop Lucius Ugorji of Owerri, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja, and Archbishop Alfred Martins of Lagos.
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah, is also among those traveling with the president.
In a statement issued by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu is expected to return to Abuja on Tuesday, May 20.
