Tinubu Joins World Leaders to Congratulate First American Pope, Leo XIV

By: Olufemi Orunsola 

Nigeria's President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has joined other world leaders to congratulate Cardinal Robert Prevost on his emergence as His Holiness Leo XIV, the Bishop of Rome and the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church Worldwide.

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that the Nigerian President conveyed his best wishes to the new Pope through his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday.

Tinubu said he felicitates the conclave for electing the American Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost as the 267th Bishop of Rome.

According to the President, he rejoices warmly 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 President's congratulatory message read in part: “The President affirms the valued relations shared between Nigeria and the Holy See over many years while acknowledging the rewarding partnership with the Catholic Church in peacebuilding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and, more recently, the promotion of technology in advancing human capacity.

"We believe 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.

I pray that the Almighty God will continuously shed his light of glory over the new leader of the Catholic Church and grant him good health and wisdom so that he can reach the world with the message of peace and love.”

While President Trump has taken the lead among world leaders who have congratulated the new Pope, describing his election as an honour to the American people, British

Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer has also felicitated the new Pope, describing his election as a “deeply profound moment of joy for Catholics in the United Kingdom and globally” while the Church of England’s current most senior bishop said he looks forward to “working with” the new Pope.

Other world leaders who have congratulated the new Pope include Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, who pleaded with the new global religious leader to continue the support the war-torn country have enjoyed from the Vatican during the reign of Pope Francis.

In a post on X Mr Zelensky wrote: “Ukraine deeply values the Holy See’s consistent position in upholding international law, condemning the Russian Federation’s military aggression against Ukraine, and protecting the rights of innocent civilians.

He further said, "At this decisive moment for our country, we hope for the continued moral and spiritual support of the Vatican in Ukraine’s efforts to restore justice and achieve a lasting peace.”

Pope Leo will have the challenge of following in the footsteps of the late Pope Francis, who earned a global popularity for being referred to  as “the people’s pope” or "Pope of the Poor".