President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed his desire to welcome Pope Leo XIV to Nigeria, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to promoting religious harmony, peace, and tolerance across the country.
The president made the remarks on Saturday while receiving Paul R. Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, at his residence in Abuja.
During the meeting, Tinubu recalled leading Nigeria’s delegation to the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, describing the occasion as historic. He praised the Pope’s efforts in promoting global peace and said Nigeria would benefit from his spiritual leadership and engagement.
Tinubu also highlighted his longstanding relationship with the Catholic Church, dating back to his time as governor of Lagos State. He noted that the Church has continued to make significant contributions to education and healthcare, adding that this influenced his decision to return mission schools to their original religious owners during his administration in Lagos.
The president reiterated his government’s commitment to ensuring freedom of worship and encouraging interfaith dialogue as a means of addressing security challenges and strengthening national unity. He urged religious leaders across the country to continue promoting peace, understanding, and tolerance among Nigerians.
In his remarks, Gallagher said he was visiting Nigeria to commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the Holy See. He described Nigeria as an important country to the Catholic Church because of its large Catholic population and expressed optimism that diplomatic and bilateral engagements between both sides would continue to grow.
