Fresh from a high-level meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, on Monday met with the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, where both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to peace, religious harmony, and national unity.
The visit formed part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the Holy See.
Earlier, Archbishop Gallagher led a Vatican delegation to the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where President Tinubu underscored his administration’s commitment to religious freedom, peaceful coexistence, and dialogue among people of different faiths.
The President also expressed hope that Pope Leo XIV would visit Nigeria in the future.
Following the meeting with the President, the Vatican envoy visited the Sultan of Sokoto at the National Mosque.
The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between Christians and Muslims, promoting peaceful coexistence, and confronting issues that threaten Nigeria’s unity.
Archbishop Gallagher was accompanied by senior Catholic leaders, including Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, and Bishop Matthew Kukah.
During the engagement,
Archbishop Gallagher and the Sultan agreed that religious leaders have a shared responsibility to foster peace and work together for the common good of all Nigerians.
The two leaders also spoke strongly against hate speech, extremism, misinformation, and religious intolerance, warning that such actions fuel division and undermine national peace.
They urged Nigerians to embrace dialogue, mutual respect, and understanding regardless of religious or ethnic differences.
The Sultan commended the Catholic Church for its longstanding commitment to interfaith dialogue, while Archbishop Gallagher described the discussions as constructive and expressed confidence that stronger collaboration between Christian and Muslim leaders would continue to promote stability and national development.
The meetings with both President Tinubu and the Sultan delivered a consistent message: Nigeria’s diversity should be a source of strength, not division, and leaders at every level must continue to reject hate speech while promoting unity, justice, and peaceful coexistence.
Why It Matters
The Vatican delegation’s engagements with President Tinubu and the Sultan of Sokoto send a strong signal that both political and religious leaders are united in promoting peace, rejecting hate speech, and encouraging closer cooperation between Christians and Muslims.
Their shared message comes at a critical time as Nigeria seeks to deepen national cohesion and counter narratives capable of inciting violence.
This report is based on verified information from official engagements involving the Presidency, the Vatican delegation, and the Sultan of Sokoto.
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