Tinubu congratulates Pope Leo XIV, hails Catholic Church.
President Bola Tinubu has rejoiced with the Roman Catholic Church about the emergence of Pope Leo XIV as the Bishop of Rome and the new leader of the church.
In a statement on Thursday, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said his principal also prayed for the successful tenure of the new pope.
“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, with a reassurance from the scriptures of a more peaceful world,” the statement partly read.
Tinubu said Nigeria and the Holy See have shared values over many years.
He also acknowledged the rewarding partnership with the Catholic Church in areas such as peacebuilding, education, healthcare, and infrastructure. More recently, this partnership has included the promotion of technology to advance human capacity. He is confident that the election of Pope Leo XIV opens a new chapter in the history of the Catholic Church and reinforces its values of love, humanity, and charity, particularly towards the underprivileged.
The President, therefore, prayed that the Almighty God will continuously shed his light of glory over the new leader of the Catholic Church and grant him optimal health and wisdom so that he can reach the world with the message of peace and love.
Robert Francis Prevost became Pope Leo XIV on Thursday after cardinals from around the globe chose him to be the first leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics to hail from the United States.
Tens of thousands of well-wishers cheered as Leo, successor to the late Pope Francis, appeared on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica to deliver the first address of his ministry.
“To all people, wherever they are, to all peoples, to the whole Earth, peace be with you,” a smiling Leo told the crowd.
“Help us and each other to build bridges through dialogue and encounters, to come together as one people, always in peace.”
Leo’s speech drew warm applause, especially in a section where the prelate—who spent many years in Peru—broke into Spanish and also paid tribute to his popular predecessor, Francis, who died last month.
“We still keep in our ears that weak, but always courageous, voice of Pope Francis blessing Rome,” he said, referring to the ailing Argentine’s Easter Sunday address, a day before his death.
“We must seek together how to be a missionary church—a church that builds bridges, holds dialogues, and is always open,” he said.