President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Rome, Italy, to attend the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV, the 267th Bishop of Rome and the newly elected leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The event is scheduled for Sunday, May 18, at the Vatican, and comes amid mixed reactions, both in Nigeria and abroad.
According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the invitation to the Vatican came directly from Pope Leo XIV, through Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State. The invitation emphasized the Pope’s “special connection to Nigeria,” having previously served at the Apostolic Nunciature in Lagos during the 1980s.
President Tinubu landed at the Mario De Bernardo Military Airport around 6pm local time, where he was received by Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, alongside top Vatican and Nigerian Embassy officials.
Top Nigerian Catholic Leaders in Delegation
- Joining Tinubu in the delegation are some of Nigeria’s most influential Catholic figures:
- Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria
- Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja
- Archbishop Alfred Martins of Lagos
- Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto
The visit is seen as part of Nigeria’s efforts to promote interfaith dialogue and strengthen global cooperation on peace and unity amid ongoing international conflicts.
Criticism from Civil Society Group
However, the visit has not been without controversy. The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) released a strong statement condemning the Vatican’s invitation to President Tinubu.
According to Intersociety, Tinubu’s administration has failed to curb religious violence and mass killings in Nigeria. The group cited shocking statistics: between May 2023 and May 2025, they claim that 15,640 Christians have been killed, and another 14,600 abducted by jihadist groups. “One Christian is killed every hour in Nigeria,” the statement declared.
“The Vatican’s gesture is misguided,” said Emeka Umeagbalasi, Intersociety’s Chairman. “It rewards complicity and silence in the face of atrocity.”
The group also criticised the presence of prominent Catholic clerics in Tinubu’s entourage, describing it as “an endorsement of state failure” and warning that such collaboration could reduce religious leaders to “presidential image launderers.”
Global Spotlight on Nigeria’s Internal Challenges
While Tinubu’s attendance at Pope Leo XIV’s installation is diplomatically significant, it also casts an international spotlight on Nigeria’s ongoing religious and security crises. The backlash underscores the growing tension between state authorities and civil society groups over the government’s perceived inaction in addressing Christian persecution, banditry, and terrorism.
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Conclusion:
President Tinubu’s Rome visit represents both diplomatic prestige and domestic controversy. As Nigeria grapples with internal strife, the global community is watching closely to see whether words at the Vatican will translate into real action back home.
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