President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday evening returned to Abuja following a historic two-day visit to the Vatican City, where he joined world leaders at the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, the 267th Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.
Touching down at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at approximately 6:50 p.m., the President was warmly received by top government officials, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike; and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje.
While in Rome, President Tinubu held strategic discussions with Vatican authorities on key diplomatic and religious matters, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to fostering interfaith harmony and global religious cooperation.
He also joined global dignitaries at the inaugural Mass held in St. Peter’s Basilica, where he had a brief, cordial exchange with the newly installed Bishop of Rome, Pope Leo XIV.
In a meeting shortly after the inauguration, Tinubu met with members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), led by Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, the President of the Conference and Archbishop of Owerri.
