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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

I look forward to receiving Pope Leo XIV, Tinubu tells Vatican diplomat

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Nigerian President Bola Tinubu expressed his eagerness to host Pope Leo XIV in Nigeria, emphasizing the Pope's needed spiritual engagement for global peace.
  • Tinubu highlighted the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the Holy See, acknowledging the Catholic Church's contributions to education, health, and humanitarianism in Nigeria.
  • The President asserted that Nigeria's security challenges are not driven by religion, citing his own interfaith household as evidence and pledging continued partnership with religious leaders to promote harmony.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has declared his anticipation of hosting Pope Leo XIV in Nigeria, stressing the vital role of the pontiff's spiritual guidance in a world seeking peace. Tinubu conveyed this sentiment while receiving Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, the Holy See's Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.

I appreciate the Pope. It was an honour for me to lead the Nigerian delegation to his inauguration as Pope Leo XIV.

— Bola TinubuThe Nigerian President expresses his respect for the Pope and recalls attending his inauguration.

The visit coincided with the significant 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the Holy See. President Tinubu recalled his personal connection to the Catholic Church, dating back to his tenure as Governor of Lagos State, where he prioritized returning mission schools to religious institutions. He acknowledged the substantial contributions of the Catholic Church to education, health, and humanitarian efforts within Nigeria, underscoring their immense value to the country.

We need his spiritual engagement, as millions around the world look up to him.

— Bola TinubuThe President emphasizes the global need for the Pope's leadership on peace.

President Tinubu also used the occasion to address the complex issue of religious harmony in Nigeria. He assured Archbishop Gallagher that his administration remains committed to fostering religious accord among all faiths. He urged Nigeria's bishops and religious leaders to continue their work in preaching peace and tolerance, emphasizing that such messages are always needed.

My administration will continue to work on religious harmony among all faiths.

— Bola TinubuThe President reaffirms his government's commitment to fostering interfaith peace in Nigeria.

Addressing the nation's security challenges, Tinubu firmly stated that the ongoing killings are not religiously motivated. He pointed to his own household, where his wife is an evangelical pastor, as an example that challenges the notion of conflict being reducible to religious identity. He assured the Vatican diplomat that Nigeria is actively working to guarantee freedom of worship and that the military has made significant progress in addressing security concerns.

This downplays the religious connotation that the religious controversy in our country might have taken.

— Bola TinubuThe President uses his personal interfaith family as an example to argue against religiously motivated conflict.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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