₦airaland Forum

Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has explained the reason behind President Bola Tinubu’s invitation to Rome by Pope Leo XIV.

DAILY POST reported that President Tinubu departed Abuja for Rome, the capital of Italy, on Saturday at the invitation of Pope Leo XIV.

Tinubu, who was accompanied by top Catholic leaders, is attending a solemn mass marking the beginning of the Pontificate of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, the 267th Bishop of Rome and the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Papal invitation sent by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Pope Leo XIV underscored the need for President Tinubu’s physical presence at the event.

DAILY POST reports that long before he became a household name in the Vatican, Robert Prevost, simply Fr. Prevost, and Prior General of the Augustinian Order from 2001 to 2013, visited Nigeria nine times.

When he left the post of Prior General, Provost maintained a connection with the west African country.

He was invited to Abuja in 2016 for the Mid-Chapter Assembly of the Nigerian Augustinians while he served as Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru.

Just before he became the Pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost was expected in Nigeria in July this year for the ordination of new priests in the Augustinian order.

And Bianca, who appeared on NTA Weekend File from Rome immediately after President Tinubu landed in Rome, said it was his connection to Nigeria that made Pope Leo XIV request the physical presence of the Nigerian leader.

Mrs Ojukwu, who pointed to the connection between Pope Leo XIV and Nigeria, also noted that Nigeria accounts for one of the fastest-growing Catholic populations in the world.

She noted that Pope Leo XIV is not a stranger to Nigeria with his deep knowledge of the streets and chapels in Abuja and Maiduguri.

Speaking on how the Papal invitation and the presence of Nigeria led by the President could build a good relationship between the west African nation and the Vatican, Mrs Ojukwu added,

“Of course, the new pontiff is the spiritual leader of over 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide. As he had already mentioned, we’re living in a world punctuated by so many tensions, so many conflicts, so much unrest.

“Nigeria’s Catholic community understand the importance and the stabilizing effect the pontiff will bring to the New World Order.

“We of course, appreciate the fact that he has considered Nigeria a very, very important country in Africa, being, of course, the most populous nation in in in in Africa.

“And with the President’s foreign policy thrust, with the President’s concentration on ensuring that one of the key elements policing peace across the African continent, and also ensuring that there is religious tolerance across the country.

“I think it’s particularly significant that being a Muslim, he accepted this invitation to join in the Pontifical mass tomorrow.

“It says a lot about his approach to ensuring that he’s a president for all Nigerians, irrespective of creed, or religious affiliations.”


Tinubu was accompanied by Archbishop Lucius Ugorji of Owerri, the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop of Abuja, Ignatius Kaigama, Archbishop of Lagos, Alfred Martins and Bishop Matthew Kukah of Sokoto Diocese.

Nbotee:
Lolzzz.. This people in government are shameless. Burkina Faso got an invite and sent the President of their constitutional council. Burundi sent it's Vice President, South Sudan and South African Presidents were also invited. Only Nigeria will make it about them like tye world revolves around them

Agbegbaorogboye:
I don't see any particular reason other than his love for wakawaka

Even Traore got an invite

Nbotee:
Lolzzz.. This people in government are shameless. Burkina Faso got an invite and sent the President of their constitutional council. Burundi sent it's Vice President, South Sudan and South African Presidents were also invited. Only Nigeria will make it about them like tye world revolves around them

“I think it’s particularly significant that being a Muslim, he accepted this invitation to join in the Pontifical mass tomorrow.

“It says a lot about his approach to ensuring that he’s a president for all Nigerians, irrespective of creed, or religious affiliations.”

PressMyButton:
Rather than call Bianca, sit her down and ask her to tell them the secret why she loves the President so much and why he is so special, they chose to hate. Dem no know say nobody dey hate omo ologo 5G. Person wey pass you, pass you.


Seyi Tinubu also rolling with the top ... zero8zero thanks for this pic.

PressMyButton:
Meanwhile, Twitter President to the Vatican representing Twitter constituency..

PressMyButton:
Pain and bitterness, is that you?. Those you mentioned including prominent figures such as Barthélémy Kéré, president of the constitutional council of Burkina Faso, Vice President Prosper Bazombanza of Burundi, and Bola Tinubu, the president of Nigeria. These were the leaders that were specifically invited.

If you think the Vatican will ever invite a junta leader, then I must question your level of intelligence and quality of education.

Why was the President of Sierra Leone, Bio snubbed?. He was at the funeral of the late pope yet he was snubbed and wasn't invited to Pope Leo's inauguration. Levels pass levels.

PressMyButton:
Pain and bitterness, is that you?. Those you mentioned including prominent figures such as Barthélémy Kéré, president of the constitutional council of Burkina Faso, Vice President Prosper Bazombanza of Burundi, and Bola Tinubu, the president of Nigeria. These were the leaders that were specifically invited.

If you think the Vatican will ever invite a junta leader, then I must question your level of intelligence and quality of education.

Why was the President of Sierra Leone, Bio snubbed?. He was at the funeral of the late pope yet he was snubbed and wasn't invited to Pope Leo's inauguration. Levels pass levels.

PressMyButton:
https://dailypost.ng/2025/05/18/why-pope-leo-xiv-chose-tinubu-among-other-leaders-bianca-ojukwu/?

Nbotee:
Some of you are really dumb. I'm sure you have no idea the junta appointed Kere. President of Sierra Leone lol. I guess the South Sudanese President too get levels na that's why he was invited as well.

PressMyButton:
Pain and bitterness, is that you?. Those you mentioned including prominent figures such as Barthélémy Kéré, president of the constitutional council of Burkina Faso, Vice President Prosper Bazombanza of Burundi, and Bola Tinubu, the president of Nigeria. These were the leaders that were specifically invited.

If you think the Vatican will ever invite a junta leader, then I must question your level of intelligence and quality of education.

Why was the President of Sierra Leone, Bio snubbed?. He was at the funeral of the late pope yet he was snubbed and wasn't invited to Pope Leo's inauguration. Levels pass levels.

PressMyButton:
The sun was so burning his bald head until Mr President rescued his ass.

Nbotee:
Some of you are really dumb. I'm sure you have no idea the junta appointed Kere. President of Sierra Leone lol. I guess the South Sudanese President too get levels na that's why he was invited as well.

Agbegbaorogboye:
Lol. Levels?
Are you aware the Togolese president was also invited
I guess Nigeria and Togo are on same level then according to you
Zombies are daft!!

Nbotee:
Lolzzz.. This people in government are shameless. Burkina Faso got an invite and sent the President of their constitutional council. Burundi sent it's Vice President, South Sudan and South African Presidents were also invited. Only Nigeria will make it about them like tye world revolves around them

PressMyButton:
Rather than call Bianca, sit her down and ask her to tell them the secret why she loves the President so much and why he is so special, they chose to hate. Dem no know say nobody dey hate omo ologo 5G. Person wey pass you, pass you.


Seyi Tinubu also rolling with the top ... zero8zero thanks for this pic.

PressMyButton:
Meanwhile, Twitter President to the Vatican representing Twitter constituency..

Pakute:
These bitter folks have been trying their hardest to suppress the positives of the outing of the President, looking for the slightest of silly things to pick up and then start spreading it around. They behaving like a typical old witch living in solitary darkness. Even when APC was in the opposition, they didn't follow Jonathan all across the world like a witch in a bid to embarrass him and the country. I love the bitterness consuming their souls and almost making their minds explode.

Moletemike:
This people and hate be like 5 and 6. The woman no even sabi they exist in their backyard.