President Bola Tinubu has told a senior Vatican diplomat that he looks forward to welcoming Pope Leo XIV in Nigeria.
Tinubu made the remark on Saturday in Abuja while receiving Archbishop Paul R Gallagher, the Holy See's Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, at his residence.
The minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, ushered in the Archbishop.
Tinubu recalled leading the Nigerian delegation to the Pope's inauguration as a moment of personal importance.
"I appreciate the Pope. It was an honour for me to lead the Nigerian delegation to his inauguration as Pope Leo XIV. It was a moment of history.
"I see his efforts all over the world to promote World Peace. We need his spiritual engagement, as millions around the world look up to him. I look forward to receiving him in Nigeria," he said.
The President described interfaith dialogue as central to his administration's approach to security.
He also spoke warmly of his long relationship with the Catholic Church, particularly during his years as Lagos Governor when he prioritised returning mission schools, seized during previous military administrations, to religious institutions.
He called on Nigeria's bishops and religious leaders to keep preaching peace and tolerance.
"My administration will continue to work on religious harmony among all faiths. Our Bishops and religious leaders have been doing a great deal.
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"Please tell them to continue the good work they are doing. Let them continue to preach peace and tolerance. We cannot have an excess of that," he said.
Tinubu also pointed to his own household as evidence of the country's capacity for religious coexistence.
"As you may be aware, my wife is a pastor at an evangelical church. This downplays the religious connotation that the religious controversy in our country might have taken," he said.
On security, the President told his guest that the military had made great progress, with more resources being directed at surveillance, particularly in previously ungoverned areas.
He also said his government was investing in youth development to reduce vulnerability to radicalisation and terrorist recruitment.
Gallagher said his visit was timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the Holy See.
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He described Nigeria as strategically vital to the Catholic Church given its large and vibrant Catholic community.
The Archbishop conveyed Pope Leo XIV's gratitude for Tinubu's presence at his inauguration and described Nigeria as the heart of Africa, home to some of the most active bishops on the continent.
He commended the Nigerian government for facilitating visas for bishops and for its responsiveness to the Church's needs.
Furthermore, he shared positive impressions of Veritas University, established by the Catholic community in Abuja, noting its remarkable growth.
Gallagher informed Tinubu that he looked forward to receiving Nigeria's Ambassador to the Holy See in the coming weeks, saying that the visit was the first in a series of special engagements from the Vatican.
The Archbishop was accompanied by Archbishop Michael F Crotty, Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria; Monsignor Suman Paul Anthony, Official of the Secretariat of State; and Monsignor Patarne Koyassambia-Kozondo, First Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature in Nigeria.
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