President Bola Tinubu is back to Abuja after a two-day visit to the Vatican City in Rome, where he attended the inauguration of the 267th Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV.
President Tinubu, who arrived the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 6:50pm, was received the senior members of the administration.
In Rome, President Tinubu met with Vatican officials to discuss diplomatic and religious matters, reaffirming his commitment to interfaith harmony. He attended the Pope’s inaugural Mass and briefly greeted the new Bishop of Rome.
Afterwards, he met with the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, urging spiritual leaders to unite the nation’s religious and cultural diversity as a source of strength, not division.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President said “if we use our diversity not for adversity but for prosperity, the country’s hope is stability and progress”.
The President, who led Nigeria’s official delegation to the inauguration, described the moment as historic, saying it was a privilege to be President at a time when a new Pontiff was being inaugurated.
Among those who welcomed the President on arrival were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume; National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje; and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
