Veteran journalist and former presidential aide, Reuben Abati, has called on the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) to lobby for a visit from Pope Leo XIV, stressing that Nigeria is in urgent need of spiritual intervention ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on The Morning Show on Arise Television on Thursday, Abati highlighted the growing insecurity in the country and the recent appeal by Catholic bishops for President Bola Tinubu to tackle the rising violence.
Abati suggested that the Church should take a step further by requesting the Pope to include Nigeria in his first African tour. Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea in April.
“The Catholic Bishops have rightly urged the President to address insecurity, but I would like to charge them to also consider lobbying for the Pope’s visit. Nigeria needs prayers at this critical time as we approach the 2027 elections. You can never have too many prayers,” Abati said.
The Pope’s planned visit to Algeria, the birthplace of Saint Augustine of Hippo, and other African nations, marks a historic first for the pontiff on the continent. Abati emphasized that securing a visit to Nigeria would provide much-needed spiritual support for the nation.
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