Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening diplomatic relations with the Holy See as it joined the Catholic community to commemorate the first anniversary of the election and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the Holy See.
Speaking at the commemorative event, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, described the occasion as a celebration of two significant milestones and praised Pope Leo XIV for his leadership over the past year.
The minister said the Pope’s “spiritual leadership, humility, compassion, and unwavering commitment to peace, justice, dialogue, and the dignity of every human person have continued to inspire millions across the world.”
She added that his “message of hope and solidarity resonates deeply at a time when humanity faces complex global challenges that demand greater understanding, reconciliation, and cooperation.”
Reflecting on five decades of diplomatic engagement, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said relations between Nigeria and the Holy See, established in 1976, have been anchored on shared values of peace, human dignity, social justice, respect for fundamental freedoms, interfaith dialogue and the promotion of the common good.
She commended the Holy See for its contributions to humanitarian causes, education, healthcare, peacebuilding and moral leadership, noting that the Catholic Church has made significant investments in Nigeria’s education, healthcare, social welfare and community development sectors.
“The Catholic Church has made immense contributions to national development through its extensive investments in education, healthcare, social welfare and community development. These efforts have positively impacted millions of Nigerians, irrespective of faith or ethnicity,” she said.
The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening its partnership with the Holy See, stressing that both parties share common goals of promoting peace, stability, dialogue and international cooperation.
“As we mark this golden jubilee, we reaffirm our resolve to deepen collaboration with the Holy See in areas of mutual interest, particularly peacebuilding, humanitarian action, youth development, education, healthcare, environmental stewardship and the promotion of shared human values,” she stated.
Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu expressed optimism that the long-standing friendship between Nigeria and the Holy See would continue to grow, saying, “Together, we can continue to build bridges of understanding and foster a more peaceful, just and compassionate world.”
She concluded by congratulating Pope Leo XIV on the first anniversary of his election and commending all those who have contributed to the enduring partnership between Nigeria and the Holy See over the past five decades.
