President Bola Tinubu on Sunday met with Pope Leo XIV shortly after the new pope’s inauguration mass held at St Peter’s Square in Vatican City, Rome.
The Nigerian president, along with other world leaders, attended the special ceremony which marked the beginning of Pope Leo XIV’s leadership of the Roman Catholic Church.
In a video shared online, President Tinubu was seen shaking hands with the pope and exchanging a few words before moving on. The pope also greeted other global leaders present at the event, including US Vice President J.D. Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Pope Leo XIV, formerly known as Cardinal Robert Prevost, officially became the 267th pope after being elected on May 8, 2025. He takes over from Pope Francis and is now the Bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church.
During the installation mass, the new pope urged the world to protect nature and care for the poor. “We must stop exploiting the earth and ignoring the suffering of the poor,” he said, calling for justice and peace in the face of global conflicts.
At 69 years old, Pope Leo is still new to many Catholics, but in the past week, he has made his views clear. He spoke in support of family values, the rights of unborn children, and the need for peace around the world.
Before becoming pope, he spent about 20 years as a missionary in Peru. His message and style have already stirred excitement, especially in the United States, where leaders like Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both Catholics, represented the country at the event.
Although no pope has worn a crown at the inauguration since 1963, the ceremony still followed ancient tradition. Pope Leo visited the tomb of Saint Peter, received the pallium (a cloth symbol of his authority), and wore the “Fisherman’s Ring,” which is specially made for every pope and destroyed after his death.
Thousands of people gathered in St Peter’s Square to witness the ceremony, which was shown on large screens. After the mass, Pope Leo XIV greeted heads of state, though no private meetings were confirmed.
President Tinubu’s presence at the event shows Nigeria’s continued relationship with the Vatican and its support for global unity, peace, and religious harmony.
SEE VIDEO HERE
𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎: 𝐓𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐛𝐮 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐨 𝐗𝐈𝐕 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐈𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐞
President Bola Tinubu shook hands with the newly installed Bishop of Rome and the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, on Sunday.… pic.twitter.com/tJD95pdeWV
— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) May 18, 2025
