By Abiola Olawale
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is scheduled to depart Abuja for the highly anticipated inauguration of Pope Leo XIV.
This was disclosed in a press statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, Tinubu will depart Nigeria for Rome, Italy on Saturday at the invitation of Pope Leo XIV.
The statement reads in part: “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 the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
“President Tinubu’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, Mathew Hassan Kukah, is also in the president’s entourage.”
This comes as Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, would be officially installed on Sunday, May 18, at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
Recall that Pope Leo XIV was elected on May 8 2025 by the Conclave of Cardinals.His election comes 27 days after his predecessor, Pope Francis, died on April 21.
