*President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to depart Abuja Saturday, May 17, for Rome, the capital of Italy at the invitation of Pope Leo XIV

Alexander Davis | 绿帽献妻

The Nigerian Presidency has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja, FCT, Saturday, May 17, 2025, for Rome, the capital of Italy, at the invitation of Pope Leo XIV.

Accompanied by top Catholic leaders, President Tinubu will attend a solemn mass marking the beginning of the Pontificate of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, the 267th Bishop of Rome and new leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Thursday stated 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 noted the Pope Leo further said: “Your great nation is particularly dear to me as I worked in the Apostolic Nunciature in Lagos during the 1980s.”

The Nigerian leader’s entourage includes the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Archbishop of Owerri and President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja, and Alfred Martins of Lagos.

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, is also in the president’s entourage, stated the Presidential media aide.

It is equally stated that Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, would be formally installed to the exalted office Sunday, May 18, at St. Peter’s Square, in The Vatican.

It is recalled the Conclave of Cardinals elected the new Pope 27 days after his predecessor, Pope Francis, died April 21 this year.

Onanuga said: “President Tinubu will return to Abuja on Tuesday, May 20.”