President Bola Tinubu has returned to Nigeria following his visit to Rome for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV.
He arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Tuesday evening and was welcomed by a delegation of senior government officials.
Among those who received the President were the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje.
The President had arrived in Italy on Saturday via the Mario De Bernardo Military Airport and was present at the Vatican on Sunday for Pope Leo’s installation as Bishop of Rome and the 267th head of the Roman Catholic Church.
In a video shared on his official X handle, President Tinubu was seen shaking hands with the new Pope and engaging in a brief conversation during the reception held after the inaugural mass at St. Peter’s Square.
Tinubu joined other world leaders at the installation mass, including United States Vice President J.D. Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who also exchanged greetings with the new pontiff.
Previously known as Cardinal Robert Prevost, Pope Leo XIV—elected on 8 May—used the occasion of his inaugural mass to call for global solidarity, stressing the need to end the exploitation of nature and the marginalisation of the poor.
During his time in Rome, President Tinubu urged Nigerian leaders and citizens to embrace the country’s diversity as a source of strength, rather than division, in order to promote national unity and accelerated development.
He also held discussions with the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, during the Pope’s installation service.
See photos from Tinubu’s return to the country below:
