Gallagher commends religious dialogue on Nigeria visit

During his visit on 2-7 July, Archbishop Paul Gallagher met the Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, president-general of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, at the National Mosque in Abuja.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to promoting peace and tolerance among Nigeria’s diverse religious communities during a meeting with the Holy See’s secretary for relations with states.

Archbishop Paul Gallagher met President Tinubu on 4 July at his residence in Abuja, accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, during a visit to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the Holy See.

In his remarks, Tinubu said interfaith dialogue is the only path to addressing the country’s security challenges. He told Archbishop Gallagher that he had a long and cordial relationship with the Catholic Church, especially during his time as governor in Lagos. He said he strongly supports its contributions to education and health.

Tinubu, who is a Muslim, said this belief led him to prioritise returning mission schools to religious institutions as soon as he became governor. The schools had been taken over under previous military administrations.

He said it was “an honour” to attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, which he called “a moment of history”.

“I see his efforts all over the world to promote world peace. We need his spiritual engagement, as millions around the world look up to him. I look forward to receiving him in Nigeria,” Tinubu said.

“My administration will continue to work on religious harmony among all faiths. Our bishops and religious leaders have been doing a great deal. Please tell them to continue the good work they are doing. Let them continue to preach peace and tolerance. We cannot have an excess of that.”

He praised the role of the Church “in expanding the frontiers of education, health, and humanitarianism in Nigeria”, which he said “is benefiting from it”.

“We are also doing a lot to guarantee freedom of worship,” he continued. “As you may be aware, my wife is a pastor at an evangelical church. This downplays the religious connotation that the religious controversy in our country might have taken.”

He assured Gallagher that the Nigerian military has made significant progress against security threats in recent times and remains committed to sustaining these achievements, recognising that a single incident can undermine previous gains. He said more resources are being allocated to security, with intensified surveillance, particularly in previously ungoverned areas.

Archbishop Gallagher said that Nigeria is important to the wider Church because of its vibrant Catholic community. He conveyed Pope Leo’s appreciation for President Tinubu’s presence at his inauguration.

Gallagher praised the progress of Veritas University, a Catholic university established in Abuja in 2002, and said Nigeria was the heart of Africa home to some of the must successful Church initiatives on the continent.

He commended President Tinubu’s efforts to promote peace, particularly through security initiatives, and encouraged continued dedication. He also expressed appreciation to the government for facilitating visas for bishops and for its responsiveness to the Church’s various needs.

Archbishop Gallagher said he looks forward to receiving the Nigerian Ambassador to the Holy See in a few weeks and assured him that his would be the first of several special visits from the Holy See.

Accompanying Archbishop Gallagher were Archbishop Michael F. Crotty, apostolic nuncio to Nigeria, Mgr Suman Paul Anthony, an official at the Section for Relations with States and International Organisations of the Secretariat of State, and Mgr Patarne Koyassambia-Kozondo, first secretary of the apostolic nunciature.

The next day, Gallagher visited the National Mosque in Abuja and met the Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, who is president-general of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).

According to the NSCIA, they discussed the importance of interreligious dialogue and the need for action against extremism.  Gallagher said the visit was “very, very good”.

“We had a very frank and illuminating conversation, and it was good to hear that many of our positions regarding the role of religious leaders, both on the Catholic side and the Muslim side, coincide,” he said, according to the Nigerian daily The Guardian.

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