President Tinubu to Attend Inauguration of Pope Leo XIV in Rome on Sunday
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted an invitation from Pope Leo XIV to attend his formal inauguration as the 267th Bishop of Rome and leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
The historic ceremony is scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican City.
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In a statement issued on Thursday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, it was confirmed that President Tinubu will depart Abuja for Rome on Saturday, May 17, accompanied by a delegation of top Catholic clergy, including Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah.
Pope Leo XIV, who previously worked in Nigeria as part of the Apostolic Nunciature in Lagos during the 1980s, highlighted his deep connection to the country and expressed the importance of President Tinubu’s presence at the inauguration.
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President Tinubu is expected to return to Abuja on Tuesday, May 20, after attending the pontifical inauguration and a solemn mass marking the official beginning of Pope Leo XIV’s leadership of the Catholic Church.