By Charles Igwe
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday exchanged greetings with the newly elected leader of the Roman Catholic Church, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, shortly after the papal inauguration mass held at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, Rome.
The brief yet symbolic encounter took place moments after the conclusion of the liturgical ceremony, during which Pope Leo XIV, the 267th pontiff, officially began his papacy. Tinubu, among several global leaders in attendance, shared a handshake and a brief conversation with the new pope before moving along.
Other notable figures who paid homage to the new Supreme Pontiff included U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, underscoring the global significance of the event.
President Tinubu had joined dozens of heads of state and dignitaries for the solemn inauguration mass, which marked a new chapter for the Catholic Church following the election of Pope Leo XIV on May 8, 2025. The former Cardinal Robert Prevost, an American and the first Augustinian clergy to ascend the papal throne, was elected after a swift conclave that lasted less than 48 hours.
