President Bola Ahmed Tinubu returned to Nigeria on Tuesday following his visit to Rome, where he attended the Inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican.
The President touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and was received by top government officials, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje.
President Tinubu had departed Nigeria over the weekend to join other global leaders at the historic event marking the commencement of Pope Leo XIV's papacy. During his time in Rome, he met privately with the Pope and shared reflections on the significance of the occasion and the Pontiff's connection to Nigeria.
In a statement shared via his official account on the social media platform X, the President praised Pope Leo XIV’s humility and long-standing relationship with Nigeria, describing him as a symbol of the kind of moral leadership the modern world urgently needs.
“Today, at the Vatican, upon the personal invitation of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, I joined world leaders and millions of Catholics in witnessing the beginning of a new papacy,” the President wrote.
“Pope Leo XIV’s humility, history with Nigeria, and message of peace remind us of the moral leadership the world desperately needs.”
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to promoting global peace, unity, and progress, emphasizing the importance of fostering understanding across racial and religious lines.
“As a nation of deep faith and great diversity, Nigeria remains committed to building bridges across belief, race, and continent—for peace, for progress, and for all of humanity,” Tinubu said.
The President concluded by offering prayers for the new head of the Catholic Church, asking for divine guidance as he embarks on his leadership of the global Catholic community.
“May the Almighty guide the Holy Father and strengthen all who labour for a more just and compassionate world.”
The visit marks another step in President Tinubu’s diplomatic outreach, reinforcing Nigeria’s role in global conversations on peace, interfaith dialogue, and moral leadership.
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