The president gave the invitation on Saturday just as he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to prioritising interfaith dialogue and promoting peace, harmony, and tolerance among Nigeria’s diverse religious communities.

The president who received in audience Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations of the Holy See, at his residence in Abuja, said interfaith dialogue was the only path to addressing the country’s security challenges.

His words: “I appreciate the Pope. It was an honour for me to lead the Nigerian delegation to his inauguration as Pope Leo XIV. It was a moment of history. I see his efforts all over the world to promote World Peace. We need his spiritual engagement, as millions around the world look up to him. I look forward to receiving him in Nigeria.”

Archbishop Gallagher was ushered in by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu.

President Tinubu told the Archbishop that he had a long and cordial relationship with the Catholic Church, especially during his time as governor in Lagos.

He said he strongly supported the Church’s contributions to education and health.

The president said that belief led him to prioritise returning mission schools to religious institutions as soon as he became governor.

The schools were taken over during the previous military administrations.

Said he: “My administration will continue to work on religious harmony among all faiths. Our Bishops and religious leaders have been doing a great deal. Please tell them to continue the good work they are doing. Let them continue to preach peace and tolerance. We cannot have an excess of that.

“I understand the roles that the Catholic church has been playing in expanding the frontiers of education, health and humanitarianism in Nigeria. It means a lot to us in Nigeria, and the country is benefiting from it.

“We are also doing a lot to guarantee freedom of worship. As you may be aware, my wife is a pastor at an evangelical church. This downplays the religious connotation that the religious controversy in our country might have taken.”

President Tinubu assured his guest that the Nigerian military had made significant progress in recent times and remained committed to sustaining these achievements, recognising that a single incident could undermine previous gains.

He stated that more resources were being allocated to security, with intensified surveillance, particularly in previously ungoverned areas.

The president assured the Archbishop that his government was also investing in the youth to prevent their exploitation by terrorists and reduce vulnerability to radicalisation.

Archbishop Gallagher said he was in Nigeria for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of relations between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Holy See, noting that Nigeria was very strategic to the Catholic Church because of its vibrant Catholic community.

He also conveyed Pope Leo XIV’s appreciation for President Tinubu’s presence at his inauguration.

He shared his impressions of Veritas University, established by the Catholic community in Abuja, noting its remarkable progress.

He described Nigeria as the heart of Africa and home to some of the most successful activities of Bishops on the continent.

He commended President Tinubu’s efforts in promoting peace, particularly through military initiatives, and encouraged continued dedication.

He also expressed appreciation to the Nigerian government for facilitating visas for bishops and for its responsiveness to the Church’s various needs.

Archbishop Gallagher informed President Tinubu that he looks forward to receiving the Nigerian Ambassador to the Holy See in a few weeks and assured him that that visit would be the first of several special visits from the Holy See.

Accompanying Archbishop Gallagher were Archbishop Michael F. Crotty, Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria; Rev. Monsignor Suman Paul Anthony, Official of the Secretariat of State – Section for Relations with States and International Organisations; and Rev. Monsignor Patarne Koyassambia-Kozondo, First Secretary, Apostolic Nunciature in Nigeria.

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The installation mass will take place on Sunday, May 18.

President Tinubu was received at the Mario De Bernardo Military Airport by Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and officials from Vatican City and the Nigerian Embassy after the plane touched down at 6 pm local time.

President Tinubu is in Rome to honour the new Pope’s invitation, which conveyed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State.

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The Papal invitation underscored the need for President Tinubu’s physical presence “at this moment of particular importance for the Catholic Church and the world afflicted by many tensions and conflicts.”

“Your great nation is particularly dear to me as I worked in the Apostolic Nunciature in Lagos during the 1980s,” Pope Leo XIV further said in the invitation.

President Tinubu’s entourage includes the Archbishop of Owerri and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja, and Alfred Martins of Lagos.

Mathew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, is also in the president’s entourage.

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The president’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, made this known on Thursday in a press statement.

Accompanied by top Catholic leaders, President Tinubu will attend 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.

In the Papal invitation sent by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Pope Leo XIV underscored the need for President Tinubu’s physical presence “at this moment of particular importance for the Catholic Church and the world afflicted by many tensions and conflicts”.

Pope Leo further stressed: “Your great nation is particularly dear to me as I worked in the Apostolic Nunciature in Lagos during the 1980s.”

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President Tinubu’s entourage includes the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Archbishop of Owerri and President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja, and  Alfred Martins of Lagos.

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah, is also in the president’s entourage.

Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost,  will be formally installed to the exalted office on Sunday, May 18, at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.

The Conclave of Cardinals elected him 27 days after his predecessor, Pope Francis, died on April 21.

President Tinubu will return to Abuja on Tuesday, May 20.

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The new pontiff was joined by cardinals in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, a day after he was chosen on Thursday as the successor to Pope Francis.

The U.S.-born cleric, who also has a Peruvian citizenship, entered the ornate chapel in the Apostolic Palace, accompanied by singing, dressed in a long white robe and wearing a traditional mitre.

He wore dark shoes, not the red shoes worn by many previous popes, which his predecessor Francis had also eschewed.

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The cardinals likewise wore white robes with gold embellishments, the chapel is the same location where the cardinals elected Prevost as pope during the conclave.

The pope is the leader of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.

While, the faithful are eager to see how Leo will shape the Catholic Church, the new pontiff has a packed schedule for the coming days, including an expected appearance at around midday on Sunday on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica for the traditional Regina Coeli prayer.

Around 100,000 people cheered him in St Peter’s Square on Thursday after white smoke emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling that a new pontiff had been chosen.

Source: dpa/NAN

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Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told reporters the Pope will also appear on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica for the midday prayer on Sunday.

Chicago Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected on Thursday after four rounds of voting as the new head of the Catholic Church after just 24 hours of conclave in the Sistine Chapel.

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Cardinal Prevost becomes the first-ever pope from the United States.

He previously served in the Vatican as a curial cardinal, heading the important dicastery – effectively the ministry – responsible for bishops worldwide.

Source: dpa/NAN

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The message is contained in a press statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.

He said the president felicitated The Conclave for electing the American Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost as the 267th Bishop of Rome.

Said Onanuga: “President Tinubu rejoices 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.

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“The president affirms 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.”

He added that President Tinubu believed the election of Pope Leo XIV opened a new chapter in the history of the Catholic Church and the values of love, humanity and charity, particularly to the underprivileged that it had consistently projected.

He said Tinubu prayed that the Almighty God would continuously shed his light of glory over the new leader of the Catholic Church and grant him good health and wisdom so that he could reach the world with the message of peace and love.

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The leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics appeared on the balcony overlooking St Peter’s Square in the Vatican on Thursday.

He was elected by the secret meeting of cardinals, known as the conclave, in the Sistine Chapel, having secured votes from two-thirds of the eligible electors.

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The successful election was indicated by white smoke billowing from a chimney set up on the chapel and the peal of bells from St Peter’s BASILICA.

Pope Leo XIV succeeds Francis, who died on Easter Monday.

Source: dpa/NAN

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The announcement was made from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where Cardinal Dominique Mamberti declared “Habemus Papam” to the cheering crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

Pope Leo XIV, aged 69, is the first American pope in history and a former Superior General of the Augustinians.

Known affectionately in Rome as the “Latin Yankee,” he spent two decades serving impoverished communities in Peru and became a naturalised citizen there.

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He reflected his deep commitment to social justice and outreach similar to his predecessor, Pope Francis.

The conclave that elected him was one of the shortest in recent history, concluding after just two days and requiring a two-thirds majority from 133 cardinal electors.

White smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney shortly after 5 p.m. (UK time) on Thursday, signaling the successful election and sparking celebrations worldwide.

In his inaugural address, Pope Leo XIV greeted the faithful with “Peace be with you all,” urging people to move forward without fear and emphasising that “God loves everyone; evil will not prevail”.

This election marks a new chapter for the Catholic Church with a leader who brings a unique blend of American roots and international pastoral experience.

Source: NAN

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A ringing of bells will accompany puffs of white smoke announcing that a new pontiff has been chosen to lead the world’s Roman Catholics.

However, before that can happen, the conclave must be held.

The name of the election procedure derives from the Latin “cum clave” (with a key) and refers to the tradition of locking cardinals in a room until they agree upon a new pope.

As usual, voting will take place in the Michelangelo-frescoed Sistine Chapel at the Vatican.

Cardinals will swear an oath of secrecy about the proceedings and seal themselves off from the world.

To prevent any outside influence from affecting the election, the men will not be allowed to read newspapers, watch television, listen to the radio, exchange mail or use telephones and computers.

During the conclave, cardinals will be housed in Saint Martha House, a residence inside the Vatican built in the 1990s also used for the previous conclave.

Before 2005, cardinals had to sleep in cramped conditions in the Apostolic Palace, the pope’s official residence.

Theoretically, any baptized male Catholic is eligible to become pope. In practice, however, the conclave will elect one of the members of the College of Cardinals.

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There is no official list of candidates for the papacy.

Each cardinal simply writes the name of the person he favours on a slip headed with the words “Eligo in summum pontificem… ” (I vote for … as pope).

Cardinals are encouraged to disguise their handwriting to prevent anyone from knowing where their sympathies lie.

One ballot is held on the first day, followed by four on each successive day.

From ballot to ballot, support builds for various figures, making the outcome clearer until the needed two-thirds majority is reached.

Should no pope have been elected after three days, there must be an interruption of no more than a day to retire for prayer and “informal conversation among the electors,” as John Paul II directed in his 1996 document “Universi Dominici Gregis” (The Lord’s Whole Flock).

The most senior cardinal addresses the conclave.

Three urns will be used for voting.

One is used to collect the cardinal’s ballot papers; another one to hold them after they have been counted; and a third may be brought to cardinals confined to Saint Martha House owing to illness or frailty.

Ballot papers are strung together and burned after each vote.

When dark smoke rises from the Sistine chimney, this is a signal that no pope has been elected.

Though conclaves have in the past lasted months, and even years, in recent history they have never taken more than a week.

Once the necessary majority is achieved, the would-be pope is asked if he accepts the post.

If he says yes, he assumes office from that moment and is asked to state the name he has chosen to use as pope – generally that of a former pontiff or of a beloved saint.

White smoke then rises from the Sistine Chapel, in a sign to the outside world that a pope has at last been elected.

At this point, the cardinal protodeacon, who at the time of Francis’ death was French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, will appear from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to announce to the world: “Habemus papam” (We have a pope).

Source: dpa/NAN

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“Waiting for an African Pope” by my brother, Azu Ishiekwene, made an interesting reading. Azu’s immense fecundity, as usual, his flawless prose, and free-flowing minting and weaving of words will always be a delight anyday. “Waiting for an African Pope” ended while I was still enjoying it!

Did Azu argue or canvass for an African pope at this point in time? Not really, in my own opinion, although he gave reasons that can support or justify the choice of one. Since the late Pope Francis was the first Jesuit and cardinal from the Americas (born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to be specific) “to rise to the top of the papacy”, this, posits Azu, “raises hopes that the next one may come from Africa or Asia”.

Another cogent reason given by Azu is that Africa “is the largest growing region for the Catholic Church, with about 20 per cent of the church’s 1.4 billion population”, thus giving hope that we may not be far away from seeing “the first Black pope in modern history”. What that means is that there had been Black popes in the past, but that was a long, long time ago, in the 5th century or the Roman-era Africa.

The office of the Pope had since been dominated by three European countries – Italy, Germany, and France – giving the impression (my own interpretation, please!) that this may be another form of (religion) colonialism or imperialism! According to Google, “there have been 266 popes throughout history, of whom 4 in 5 were from Italy.”

In this Digital Age and Free World, an office as important as that of the Catholic pope should also be democratised. God, being no respecter of persons and the Holy Spirit also not discriminating among tribes and tongues, what is good for the Caucausians should also be good for the Asians and Africans!

Azu also argues that since the deceased pope pitched his tent with the poor, championing a lot of reforms that deliberately made advocacy for the poor a legacy, there is no better way to protect, preserve, advance, and concretise that legacy than to choose the next pope from among the poorest of the poor. This is debatable, though, because a man’s ideology, more than his place of origin or the colour of his skin, is likely to determine where he pitches his tent between the haves and have-nots.

Azu, however, highlights a drawback of the African Catholic church – it is a poor church. Says Azu: “The African church may have the fastest-growing flock, but it is also the begging bowl. In a world where money is the bicycle of the gospel, the African church is the largest recipient of many forms of financial aid.” These days, though, the gospel no longer thrives on bicycles but on custom-built supersonic jets, especially where Nigeria’s Pentecostals are concerned!

Other obstacles listed by Azu include that African cardinals have faced less scrutiny compared with their other colleagues; and then there is the politics of the conclave (where popes are chosen). Since man is intrinsically a political animal, there is politics everywhere you find human beings. And where there is politics, a lot of factors – subjective and objective – come into play.

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The colour of one’s skin, the region where a candidate comes from, and his ideology will certainly come into play. How many of the cardinals who fought the deceased pope tooth and nail over his reforms, especially his fight against corruption, incompetence and conservatism, will want to see a continuation of the same policies?

In the end, will a Black pope emerge after the white-coloured smoke funnels from the top of Sistine Chapel, signalling that a choice has been made? Again, why is it a white-coloured smoke that signals success while a black-coloured smoke signals that no decision has been arrived at?

Azu does not think a Black pope will emerge because, according to him, the road to change is usually long! And he is right! Jamaican reggae artiste Jimmy Cliff says the road is not only long but also hard. But isn’t 16 centuries a long and hard enough wait for Africa – except, here again, it is a wait for Godot?

“The odds, this time, favour yet another Italian pope”, concludes Azu. Each time prophets, pastors, and preachers take such a risk as Azu’s or soccer buffs predict who wins in a football match and fail, I shudder at the perils of making predictions!

Fare thee well, Pope Francis! The thoughts and advocacies of your patron saint, the Italian Saint Francis of Assisi (Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone: 1181 – 3 October, 1226), have also had a profound influence on my own worldview.

As if Catholic Rev. Father Oluoma Chinenye John had also read Azu, he was quoted as saying that getting an African pope was not something Catholics in Africa were clamouring for. Did he say it was not desirable? No! He only wanted whoever emerges to have been so chosen by God, arguing that getting an African (simply because he is an African – my own addition, please!) to succeed the deceased pope will make no difference.

His exact words: “We are not praying for an African pope. We are praying for a good and holy pope who will shepherd the people. He can be an African, American, European or Asian… Una don hear, ba? All those agitating and clamouring for an African to be the next pope, you miss the point completely. Popes are not chosen on racial sentiments. Even if an African becomes the next pope, it will not give Africans any advantage over others and vice-versa”. Poking fun at Nigeria, he noted that there is nothing like “emilokan” or “it is my turn” in the selection of a pope!

Father Oluoma is a person I respect so much for his candour. I always love to listen to him as he makes very serious statements in a light-hearted manner. Another such fellow is Professor PLO Lumumba. But this time around, I want to disagree with Father Oluoma while agreeing with Azu. Whatever criteria is applied to choose the next pope – by God or human beings – nothing should stop an African from making the mark. Why should Blacks always fall behind Whites in the pecking order in all things and at all times, even in things that pertain unto religion, which is touted as our forte in Africa? When will Africa “come of age”, to quote the assassinated Nigerian Head of State, Gen. Murtala Muhammed?

That said, the life of Pope Francis should be a challenge to church leaders worldwide. Can the following report about the pope be true? He should have been buried yesterday (Saturday). It goes thus: “Some reports indicate that Pope Francis died leaving only 100 dollars. Yes, a hundred dollars. Less than 90 euros. No house. No bank account. No investment in his name. And yet, he was the head of the Catholic Church. A post that could have earned him about €340,000 a year. But he refused that money. Every year. Since 2013. Why? Because he was a Jesuit, and the Jesuits take a vow of poverty.

“Rather than living in the luxurious Vatican apartments like his predecessors, he chose to move into the Casa Santa Marta, a simple, modest residence. No gilding. No personal servants. Just a bed, a desk, and his faith. He wore his old worn-out black shoes, refusing traditional red moccasins. He moved in a small Ford Focus while other religious leaders were driving in limousines. He ate with the Vatican employees, not in a private dining room. He simply dressed, without special adornment, just his white outfit and an iron cross. An invisible wealth…

“While some cling to their property… Pope Francis has chosen to own nothing to offer everything. No millions. No complex wills. Just 100 dollars… and a powerful message: ‘It’s not what you own that matters. That’s what you are. What you do for others.’ The world is shocked… but inspired. At a time when wealth often becomes an ultimate goal, Pope Francis leaves an eternal trace without ever having sought to enrich himself. He did not bequeath any material fortune. He left a moral fortune. A lesson in humility. A vision of service.

“He wasn’t a luxury Pope! He was a Pope of The Heart. A man who has proved that to live simply is to reign differently. What about you? What will you leave behind? Money? Things? Or a real inspiration?”

It is difficult not to notice the difference between the religion-preneurs that we have here and the true followers of Jesus Christ as depicted by Pope Francis. Yet, the Bible says in St. Luke 12: 15:  “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Matthew 6: 19 -21 says: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

For a moment, please pause and Google “The 10 top richest pastors in Nigeria” and marvel! Tell me, where are folks taking all the riches? Heaven or hell? What with so much poverty – grinding poverty, multi-dimensional poverty – in the midst of their congregation? Why can’t they divest themselves of their stinking riches and give to the poor, like Jesus Christ admonished the rich, young man in Matthew 19: 21-24? Building state-of-the-art cathedrals is not a substitute for taking care of the poor.

Pope Francis is dead – by the time you are reading this (on Sunday), he would have been buried the day before (on Saturday). He would have taken nothing with him – only his soul went with him.

I counsel our church-preneurs to listen to Tracy Chapman’s “All that you have is your soul.” Permit me to take just a few lines from it: “Oh my mama told me/Because she say she learned the hard way/Say she want to spare the children/She say don’t give or sell your soul away/Because all that you have is your soul/Don’t be tempted by the shiny apple/Don’t you eat of a bitter fruit/Hunger only for a taste of justice/Hunger only for a word of truth/Because all that you have is your soul/ Why was I such a young fool/Thought I’d made history/…Thought I’d made something that could be mine forever/Found out the hard way one can’t possess another/And all that you have is your soul…”

Can anyone, from his or her grave, beat God’s words in Psalm 39:6? Or nullify Mark 8: 34-38?

Fare thee well, Pope Francis! The thoughts and advocacies of your patron saint, the Italian Saint Francis of Assisi (Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone: 1181 – 3 October, 1226), have also had a profound influence on my own worldview.

*Bolawole (turnpot@gmail.com 0807 552 5533), former Editor of PUNCH newspapers, Chairman of its Editorial Board and Deputy Editor-in-chief, was also the Managing Director/ Editor-in-chief of the Westerner newsmagazine. He writes the “ON THE LORD’S DAY” column in the Sunday Tribune and “TREASURES” column in the New Telegraph newspapers. He is also a public affairs analyst on radio and television.

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