President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been condemned for a supposed meeting with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State to the Vatican.
His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin
In a statement released following the president’s arrival in Rome, for the solemn mass that would mark the beginning of the Pontificate of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, he noted that he was warmly received and graciously hosted to dinner by His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State to the Vatican.
Tinubu in Rome with an unknown official in Rome
Tinubu in Rome with an unknown official
Further, the statement noted that their dialogue was marked by a spirit of fraternity and a shared vision for the future, focusing on common values such as peace, mutual respect, and global solidarity.
Tinubu added that he expressed Nigeria’s deep appreciation for the Vatican’s longstanding goodwill and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to promoting interfaith dialogue, tolerance, and cooperation in an increasingly polarised world.
He added that as always, Nigeria remains a nation open to friendship, grounded in faith, and committed to building bridges of understanding across the world.
Interestingly, the statement has now been trailed by controversy as Catholic faithful on X counter that the person who hosted the President was not Cardinal Parolin.
Sarah Ibrahim with the X handle@TheSerahIbrahim noted that she was upset that her religion was being denigrated by the President, as the person the President met with was not His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Furthermore, she noted that His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin who was so dear to Pope Francis has been the Vatican’s Secretary of State since 2013.
She called on the President to stop making a mockery of her religion just because of wanting to take pictures.
She noted that the President was in Rome on official duties as every Nation is. Ibrahim added that all countries especially those with huge catholic faithful were invited to the inauguration, adding that Tinubu is in Rome to represent the country’s Catholics, even as she wondered why he would mislabel the person who hosted him.
She wondered why the president is not in touch with his surroundings such that he didn’t know who he ate with, adding that the Vatican is a sacred place.
Another X user with the handle @Timed Frank wondered why the Presidency had to tell a very obvious lie.
He wrote: “Everyone knows no one rates Tinubu at home and most especially on the World (International) stage so why the constant need to feel relevant? This is embarrassing.”
Akase Agabo with the handle @Akase Agabo wondered why Tinubu’s handlers could not simply ask for the name of the person who hosted him from the Catholics on the president’s entourage.
He wrote, “On Tinubu’s entourage were the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja and the Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese and others. These are people who are familiar with the dealings of the Vatican. His handlers could have just checked with these people or their aides before rushing to press.”
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