Vatican envoy hints at Pope Leo XIV visit to Nigeria, President Tinubu expresses anticipation
via Punch Nigeria5 min read
Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Holy See's Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, indicated a potential future visit by Pope Leo XIV to Nigeria. This statement followed a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja. President Tinubu expressed his anticipation for the Pope's visit, highlighting the need for his spiritual engagement for peace and acknowledging the Catholic Church's significant contributions to education, health, and humanitarian efforts in Nigeria. Archbishop Gallagher's visit is part of engagements leading up to the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the Holy See. He noted the strong bilateral relationship, evidenced by Nigeria's recent deployment of Paul Adikwu as ambassador-designate to the Holy See. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, emphasized Nigeria's substantial Catholic population and the Church's broad impact beyond worship, including education, healthcare, and interfaith dialogue. President Tinubu also addressed Nigeria's security challenges, stating that conflicts are not religiously driven and his administration is committed to promoting religious harmony and investing in youth to prevent radicalization.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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