Pope Leo XIV Met with Over 70 Catholic Bishops of Nigeria on their Ad Limina Visit to the Vatican - VIDEO
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Following the conclusion of their national conference, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria arrived in Rome for their Ad Limina Apostolorum visit—a traditional pilgrimage where bishops report on the pastoral state of their dioceses and strengthen their bond with the Holy Father.
The visit is being conducted in two main delegations:
Group 1: 37 bishops met with the Pope on March 6.
This morning, Pope Leo met with bishops from Nigeria in the Apostolic Palace during their “ad Limina Apostolorum” visit. pic.twitter.com/SajIsM5g0h
Group 2: 35 bishops (from the provinces of Calabar, Jos, Abuja, and Kaduna) arrived over the weekend and officially began their visit on Monday, March 8, 2026 and met the pope on March 14.
Highlights of the Visit
Mass at St. John Lateran: The second group commenced their pilgrimage with a Holy Mass at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the Cathedral of Rome. The liturgy was led by the Most Rev. Joseph Ekuwem, Archbishop of Calabar.
Symbol of Unity: Following the Mass, the bishops gathered around the Cathedra (the Pope's seat), symbolizing their communion with the See of Peter.
Papal Interaction: Social media footage from the Vatican captured the bishops presenting gifts to Pope Leo XIV, who was elected in May 2025.
Looking Ahead: The Pope’s African Journey
This visit precedes a historic milestone for the current papacy. Having been inaugurated on May 18, 2025, Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to make his first apostolic journey to Africa this April. His itinerary includes:
Algeria
Cameroon
Angola
Equatorial Guinea
The Nigerian bishops have invited the faithful to join them in prayer, hoping this pilgrimage fosters spiritual growth for the Church and peace for the nation of Nigeria.
The ad limina visit for the bishops included the following activities:
MONDAY:
• The programme officially began on Monday, 2 March, with the celebration of the Eucharist at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. The liturgy was presided over by Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, immediate past President of the CBCN.
• Following the Mass, the Bishops paused in prayer at the tomb of the late Pope Francis, located within the Basilica, entrusting the Church in Nigeria to God’s providence.
• The day continued with series of official encounters with several dicasteries of the Roman Curia. Among those visited were the:
Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
Dicastery for the Causes of Saints,
Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, and the
Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.
These meetings provided an opportunity to exchange views on pastoral realities and to strengthen collaboration between the local Church in Nigeria and the universal Church.
TUESDAY:
• On Tuesday, 3 March, the Bishops began their day with communal prayer and the celebration of Holy Mass, presided over by Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin.
• Their engagements for the day included visits to the following Dicasteries:
Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life
Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, and the
Secretariat of State.
• Discussions during these sessions touched on a range of pastoral and societal concerns, including the Church’s commitment to evangelisation, human dignity, peacebuilding, and the pursuit of the common good.
• In the evening, the Bishops were received at dinner by His Excellency, Most Rev. Fortunatus Nwachukwu, Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelisation, providing a further occasion for fraternal exchange.
• As their pilgrimage continues, the Bishops remain united in prayer for the Church and people of Nigeria, and they invite the faithful to accompany them spiritually so that this visit may bear abundant fruit for the life of the Church and for the good of the nation.
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