President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerian leaders and citizens to harness the country’s diversity to foster national stability and rapid development.
Speaking in Rome on Sunday during a meeting with members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Tinubu said, “If we use our diversity not for adversity but for prosperity, the country’s hope is stability and progress.”
The meeting took place shortly after the President attended the installation mass of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, where he joined other world leaders for the historic occasion.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described it as a “historic” moment to witness the inauguration of a new Pope while serving as Nigeria’s leader.
The Catholic bishops were part of the Nigerian delegation to Rome, attending both the burial of the late Pope Francis and the inauguration of his successor, Pope Leo XIV.
Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria and Archbishop of Owerri, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for facilitating their visit to the Vatican.
“You are always there for us. Now that you have come to the Vatican, whenever we have our conference in Nigeria, we will also invite you. We look forward to interfacing with you, just as you were able to do with the Holy Father,” Archbishop Ugorji was quoted as saying.
The meeting was also attended by prominent Nigerian Catholic leaders, including Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja, Archbishop Alfred Martins of Lagos, and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto Diocese.
Meeting With Obi, Fayemi and Pope Leo
The New Daily Prime reported that President Tinubu, earlier on Sunday, met with the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, and a former governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, during Pope Leo’s installation service.
He also met briefly with the 69-year-old Pope following the installation mass in St. Peter’s Square. In a video on the president’s X account, he shook hands and exchanged a few words with the new pontiff before moving along.
Other world leaders present included United States Vice President J.D. Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, both of whom also greeted the Pope after the mass.
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected on 8 May as the 267th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church following a secret conclave of cardinals.
The American-born pontiff had begun his papacy with a strong call for global peace, environmental stewardship, and the protection of marginalised communities.
At the installation, Pope Leo urged the world to stop exploiting nature and marginalising the poor.
