The Vatican has suggested that Pope Leo XIV could make an official visit to Nigeria in the coming years, a move that would further strengthen the long-standing relationship between the Holy See and Africa’s largest Catholic population.
The indication came on Saturday after Cardinal Carlo Maria Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, held talks with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Gallagher said the possibility of a papal visit remained open, although no formal plans had been made.
He noted that the Holy See has maintained a continuous diplomatic presence in Nigeria through the Apostolic Nuncio and recalled previous visits by leaders of the Catholic Church, expressing optimism that Pope Leo XIV could also visit the country in the future.
Nigeria remains close to Pope Leo
Long before his election as Pope in May 2025, Pope Leo XIV had established close ties with Nigeria through repeated visits across the country.
As Father Robert Francis Prevost, who served as Prior General of the worldwide Augustinian Order and later as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, he travelled to Nigeria on at least nine occasions between 2001 and 2016.
His visits took him to several cities, including Lagos, Jos, Benin, Bida, Ibusa, Iwaro Oka-Akoko, Kano, Warri, Kaduna and Abuja, where he engaged with members of the Catholic community.
Although the Pontiff embarked on his first apostolic tour of Africa in April 2026, visiting Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria was not included in the itinerary despite having more than 30 million Catholics, over 10,000 priests and the continent’s highest number of Catholic archbishops.
Relations with Holy See described as strong
Gallagher described his discussion with President Tinubu as productive and reaffirmed that diplomatic ties between Nigeria and the Holy See remain healthy.
He also welcomed the recent appointment of Paul Adikwu as Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to the Vatican, saying the move reflected the strength of the relationship between both parties.
According to the Vatican official, his visit to Abuja formed part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the Holy See.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who attended the meeting, said Gallagher’s visit underscored the importance of the relationship, given the size and influence of the Catholic Church in Nigeria.
She noted that the church has continued to make significant contributions to education, healthcare, humanitarian services, interfaith dialogue and peacebuilding across the country and the wider African continent.
The minister recalled that diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the Holy See began in 1976, while Nigeria established its permanent mission to the Vatican in 2012.
Although no official timetable has been announced for a papal visit, Gallagher’s remarks have renewed expectations that Pope Leo XIV may eventually undertake an official visit to Nigeria, a country he is already familiar with through his numerous previous trips.