President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja for Rome on Saturday, 17 May, to attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, following a formal invitation from the Vatican.
Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
The solemn mass, which marks the beginning of the pontificate of the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church, will take place on Sunday, 18 May, at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
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Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, was elected by the Conclave of Cardinals on 28 April, 27 days after the death of Pope Francis on 21 April.
In a personal message conveyed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
Pope Leo XIV emphasised the significance of Tinubu’s presence at the ceremony.
He described it as ‘a moment of particular importance for the Catholic Church and the world afflicted by many tensions and conflicts.’
The Pope added that Nigeria holds a special place in his heart, recalling his time serving at the Apostolic Nunciature in Lagos during the 1980s.
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President Tinubu will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including 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; Archbishop Alfred Martins of Lagos; and the Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah.
Tinubu is expected to return to Abuja on Tuesday, 20 May.
