The newly elected Pope Leo XIV has made significant contributions to Nigeria through his visits, having traveled to the country on nine occasions between 2001 and 2016.
The National Director of Social Communications, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, (CSN) Very Rev Fr Dr Michael Nsikak Umoh, listed the number of times Pope Leo has been to Nigeria.
According to Father Umoh, the last time Pope Leo IV visited Nigeria was in September 2016 for the Intermediate General Chapter which was held at DRACC, Lugbe. …CONTINUE READING
The National Director of Social Communications, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, (CSN) Very Rev Fr Dr Michael Nsikak Umoh, said Pope Leo XIV visited Nigeria on at least nine occasions between 2001 and 2016.
Very Rev Fr Umoh said Pope Leo is related to Nigeria through his conferes of the Order of St. Augustine
According to Father Umoh, Pope Leo’s previous visits were usually to the Provincial Chapters of the Augustinian Province of Nigeria as the Prior General.
As reported by The Nigeria Catholic Network, Pope Leo usually visit most of the areas the Augustinians have a community including Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Warri, Jos, Benin, Bida, Ibusa, Iwaro Oka-Akoko, Kano, etc.
Pope Leo’s past visits to Nigeria
1. November 2001: While the General Chapter of 2001 approved the constitution of the Augustinian Province of Nigeria in August, the Prior General (Fr. Robert Prevost) and his council erected the province in November. This was at St. Monica, Jos (The Augustinian Provincialate in Nigeria).
2. August 2003: Visited as the Prior General
3. October 2005: St Monica Catholic Church, Malali, Kaduna
4. August 2007: Canonical visits in 2007 (he visited every part of Nigeria where the Augustinians work: Lagos, Jos, Kaduna, Abuja, Agbor, etc).
5. May 2008: Present for the episcopal ordination of the Bishop of Kano, Bishop John Namaza Niyiring, OSA.
6. August 2008: Visited as the Prior General
7. August 2010: Visited as the Prior General
8. August 2012: Visited as the Prior General
9. September 2016: As the Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, he visited Abuja for the Intermediate General Chapter which was held at DRACC, Lugbe.
He was taken on a tour of Abuja with the Major Superiors of the Augustinian Order to the National Stadium, Eagle’s Square, and the Ecumenical Centre.
They were later hosted to a dinner at the KK Hotel and had Mass at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, Maraba.
It was gathered that some of his Augustinian confreres who lived with him in the community in Rome. Two of them are Nigerians.