By Fr. Michael Nsikak Umoh
Marking a golden jubilee of diplomatic relations with Nigeria, Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, concluded a historic visit to Nigeria from July 3 to July 7, 2026.
At the airport to receive the Vatican envoy was the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Most Rev. Michael Crotty, and a host of Bishops, priests, religious and laity. The reception at the airport enjoyed a good support from the federal government of Nigeria.
His itinerary, which included solemn liturgical celebrations, diplomatic receptions, and ecumenical/inter-religious visits delivered a consistent message of hope, structural and religious dialogue, and unwavering advocacy for the vulnerable, to the Catholic Church, the Nigerian government and its citizens.
Archbishop Gallagher on July 5, 2026, celebrated a Thanksgiving Mass at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral in Abuja to commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the Holy See and Nigeria. He addressed a congregation that included the clergy led by the Local Ordinary, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, and some international diplomats. While acknowledging the steep socio-economic realities confronting the nation, Archbishop Gallagher delivered a message of hope. Drawing parallels to the biblical struggles of Judah, he addressed the congregation directly:
“As the people of Judah faced different forms of oppression and hardships, too many in our own time are confronted by numerous challenges including insecurity, economic hardship and the lack of basic amenities, and indeed violence, sometimes extreme”.
Despite these afflictions, he urged Nigerians to persevere, noting that true peace transcends immediate human suffering. Using the legacy of Nigeria’s co-patron saint, he emphasised that lasting structural changes require patience:
“The example of St Patrick remains important for the Nigeria of today, and indeed for all Christians, as he shows us that the burden of labouring for peace, while demanding, is made light by God’s grace”.
On July 6, 2026, the focus shifted to the Apostolic Nunciature in Abuja, where a diplomatic reception was held. The event brought together key political and regional figures, including Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray.
In his address, Archbishop Gallagher underscored that the relationship between the Vatican and Nigeria extends far beyond geopolitical strategy:
“Today’s event celebrates the special bond of cooperation that exists between the Holy See and Nigeria, a bond that is built not on the basis of political or material interests, but on our shared values of protecting the God-given dignity of the human person, guaranteeing religious freedom and of promoting justice and peace”.
The Vatican envoy quoted Nigeria’s own national anthem to highlight this shared vision of building a society “where no man is oppressed”. He also used the platform to convey the universal vision of the recently elected Pope Leo XIV. Referencing the Pope’s encyclical, Humanitas Magnifica, Gallagher warned of global challenges like Artificial Intelligence threatening human dignity “in the pursuit of enhanced comfort of a privileged few”.
The evening concluded with the inauguration of the Saint John Paul II Memorial Room, as a way preserving the history of the late Pontiff’s 1982 and 1998 papal visits to Nigeria, and the joint unveiling of a 50th anniversary commemorative plaque with Minister Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
The apostolic visit culminated on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, with a votive Mass celebrated at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria alongside a good number of Catholic Bishops of Nigeria, led by their president of Conference, Archbishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso. The liturgy marked the first anniversary of Pope Leo XIV’s election.
Reflecting on the day’s Gospel narrative of Jesus healing a mute man, Archbishop Gallagher reminded the gathered bishops, priests, and religious of their inherent societal obligations:
“By the charism and grace of ecclesiastical leadership you received, the Lord has endowed you with the power of advocacy to speak for the voiceless and to defend the oppressed in different forms”.
He did not mince words regarding the friction this advocacy might cause with political structures, warning that just as Jesus was vilified, “we should not expect it to be any easier when we stand with the people and when we give voice to the voiceless”.
Closing his message with a scriptural warning from the Prophet Hosea against self-serving leadership and systemic corruption, he implored both the lay faithful and the clergy to operate in total obedience to God to avoid “reaping the whirlwind”. He concluded with a final blessing, praying that the Church in Nigeria remains an unwavering “beacon of hope in the service of the common good of every citizen of Nigeria”.
