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President Bola Tinubu has congratulationd His Holiness Leo XIV on his election as the Bishop of Rome and the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
The President felicitated The Conclave for electing the American Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost as the 267th Bishop of Rome.
He rejoiced with the leadership of and congregants of the Catholic Church in Nigeria on the historic election of the new Pontiff whose message of faith and hope already resonates across the globe, with a reassurance from the scriptures of a more peaceful world.
The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, affirmed the valued relations shared between Nigeria and the Holy See over many years while acknowledging the rewarding partnership with the Catholic Church in peacebuilding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and, more recently, the promotion of technology in advancing human capacity.
President Tinubu believed the election of Pope Leo XIV opens a new chapter in the history of the Catholic Church and the values of love, humanity and charity, particularly to the underprivileged that it has consistently projected.
He prayed that the Almighty God will continuously shed his light of glory over the new leader of the Catholic Church and grant him good health and wisdom so that he can reach the world with the message of peace and love.
In a separate statement, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar also extended warm congratulations to the Catholic faithful worldwide for the successful election of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV as the Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday, 8th May 2025.
Statement issued by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, reads "Nigeria rejoices with the global Catholic community on this momentous and historic occasion and prays for divine wisdom, strength, and guidance for the new Pope as he assumes this sacred responsibility.
"We are confident that with his wealth of experience and devotion, His Holiness will lead with compassion, humility, and a steadfast commitment to peace, unity, and the spiritual well-being of humanity.
"As a nation with a significant and large Catholic population, Nigeria values the enduring relationship between the Holy See and our country. We therefore look forward to continued collaboration in promoting interfaith dialogue, harmony, social justice, and the common good of all people.
"Once again, Nigeria congratulates Pope Leo XIV and the entire Catholic faithful. May his papacy be blessed with grace and profound impact on the world." it concluded