President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja following a two-day visit to Vatican City, Rome, where he attended the inauguration of the 267th Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV.

Arriving late Tuesday at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the President was received by senior government officials, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje; and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

During his visit, Tinubu held high-level discussions with Vatican authorities, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to fostering interfaith harmony and cooperation.

He also attended the Pope’s inaugural Mass on Sunday, joining other world leaders in the solemn ceremony, and later shared a brief personal moment with the new Pontiff.

The President also met with the leadership of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), led by Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, where he urged religious leaders to promote unity by turning Nigeria’s cultural and religious diversity into a force for national prosperity.

Describing the occasion as historic, Tinubu said it was a privilege to lead Nigeria’s delegation at such a significant moment in global religious history.

According to a statement from his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President emphasized that “if we use our diversity not for adversity but for prosperity, the country’s hope is stability and progress.”