Tinubu meets Pope Leo XIV at Vatican Inauguration Mass

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday met with newly inaugurated Pope Leo XIV at St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City, shortly after a solemn mass marking the official commencement of the pontiff’s papacy.

The inauguration, which formally installed Pope Leo XIV as the 267th Bishop of Rome and spiritual leader of over 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide, attracted a host of global leaders.

Following the mass, President Tinubu exchanged greetings with the pope in a brief handshake and conversation.

Also in attendance were U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, both of whom extended their congratulations to the new pope.

In his inaugural homily, Pope Leo XIV made a passionate appeal for global unity, urging an end to hatred, violence, and prejudice. He also condemned the economic systems that exploit natural resources and neglect the world’s most vulnerable.

“In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalises the poorest,” the pope declared.

President Tinubu’s presence at the event reaffirmed Nigeria’s strong diplomatic ties with the Vatican, as he joined other African leaders specially invited for the historic occasion.