President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Robert Cardinal Francis Prevost on his emergence as the new Pontiff of the Catholic Church, taking the name Pope Leo XIV, following the passing of Pope Francis.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu commended the College of Cardinals for electing the American-born Cardinal as the 267th Bishop of Rome.
The President also extended his felicitations to the leadership and faithful of the Catholic Church in Nigeria, describing the election as a historic moment for the global Catholic community.
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He acknowledged the enduring ties between Nigeria and the Holy See, highlighting the Catholic Church’s contributions to peacebuilding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and, more recently, technological advancement in the country.
Expressing confidence in the new papacy, President Tinubu described Pope Leo XIV’s ascension as the dawn of a new era in the Church’s history. He prayed that God would grant the new Pontiff divine wisdom, strength, and good health to lead the Church in this pivotal time.
