President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has joined others to extend warmest congratulations to His Holiness Leo XIV on his election as the 267th Bishop of Rome and the new spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
In a statement on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu celebrated the emergence of American-born Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost as the newly elected Pontiff, hailing the decision of the Conclave as a defining moment for the global Catholic community.
“The President felicitates the Conclave for electing the American Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost as the 267th Bishop of Rome. President Tinubu rejoices with the leadership 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,” the statement reads.
Describing Pope Leo XIV’s ascension as a beacon of reassurance drawn from scripture, President Tinubu expressed confidence that the new Pope would inspire a more peaceful and united world.
The President also took the opportunity to reflect on the long-standing and fruitful relationship between Nigeria and the Holy See, highlighting the Catholic Church’s vital role in peacebuilding, education, healthcare delivery, infrastructure development, and, in recent times, the promotion of technology as a tool for human advancement.
Tinubu noted that 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 concluded his message with a prayer for the new Pope, asking the Almighty to endow him with strength, wisdom, and divine guidance in his mission to spread peace and love across the world.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
