The Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Michael Banjo, has expressed appreciation to God, the Vicar of Christ, Pope Leo XIV, and the various dicasteries of the Roman Curia for a successful Ad Limina Apostolorum Visit to the Eternal City.
On Behalf of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Fr. Banjo announced, “With hearts full of gratitude, we give thanks to Almighty God for this grace-filled pilgrimage” of over 70 Prelates from the oil-rich nation.
A cross-section of the Nigerian Bishops. Credit: Michael Banjo
Gratitude for a grace-filled pilgrimage
According to him, “We are deeply appreciative of the Dicastery for Evangelisation for its coordination and guidance; the Opera della Chiesa Congregation for its generous logistical support and the organisation of the spiritual recollection; the Nigerian Embassy to the Holy See for transport assistance, warm reception, and hospitality; and the Nigerian Chaplaincy in Rome, in collaboration with Nigerian priests, consecrated persons, and seminarians, for their fraternal hospitality.”
On 13 March, the ecclesiastical scribe who was part of the delegation when the first group of members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria was received by Pope Leo shared that he had “the profound privilege of receiving the Holy Father’s apostolic blessing and kind encouragement regarding the work of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria in the service of the Church in Nigeria.”
Taken from its Latin roots, “Ad Limina Apostolorum,” which translates as “the threshold of the apostles,” is a mandatory visit by all bishops to Rome to visit the successor of Peter and other Vatican officials while offering special prayer at the tombs of Saints Peter and Paul.
Bishops in the first group are from the Provinces of Owerri, Ibadan, Lagos, Onitsha, and Benin City Provinces, had returned to Nigeria after concluding their one-week visit.
After the celebration of the Eucharist at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, led by the Archbishop of Owerri and the immediate past President of the CBCN, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, the Nigerian Bishops also offered prayers at the tomb of the late Pope Francis on Monday, 2 March.
The prelates undertook a tour to the various dicasteries of the Roman Curia, including Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, the Causes of Saints, Interreligious Dialogue, and Promoting Christian Unity.
On Tuesday, 3 March, the bishops visited other dicasteries, especially Laity, Family and Life, Promoting Integral Human Development, Doctrine of the Faith, and the Secretariat of State, after a celebration of communal prayer and Holy Mass, presided by the Archbishop of Ibadan, Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin.
The Bishops in Prayer. Credit: Michael Banjo
Called to Service in Communion with the Vicar of Christ
Stressing the significance of the gathering, Fr. Banjo stated that, “Such moments remind us that our service in the Church is always carried out in communion with the successor of Saint Peter and for the good of the People of God.”
The second group of the bishops from Nigeria to Rome who were led in the celebration of Holy Mass by Most Rev. Joseph Ekuwem, Archbishop of Calabar, at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the Cathedral of the Pope as Bishop of Rome gathered around the Cathedra (Seat of the Bishop of Rome), “a symbolic gesture expressing their communion with the Holy Father and their unity with the See of Peter,” the CSN noted.
Highlights of the visit included meeting with various dicasteries and ecclesial institutions of the Holy See, visiting the major basilicas and other sacred sites, and engaging in moments of prayer and reflection, which culminated in a personal audience with the Roman Pontiff to strengthen “the bonds of communion between the local Churches in Nigeria and the universal Church,” according to Fr. Banjo.
The second group of members of the Conference, from the provinces of Calabar, Jos, Kaduna, and Abuja, who arrived in Rome on Sunday, 8 March, met with the Holy Father on Saturday, 14 March 2026, in a historic encounter, the first in his pontificate.
The prelates presented their reports about the pastoral life of their respective dioceses and shared in fraternal dialogue with the Successor of Saint Peter during the grace-filled spiritual encounter.
During the august event, the newly elected President of the Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Man’Oso Ndagoso, Archbishop of Kaduna, was formally presented to Pope Leo.
“Indigenous and symbolic gifts to His Holiness:” – Deep communion binding the Nigerian Church with Rome
The visit was characterised by prayer at the tombs of Saints Peter and Paul, a visit to the tombs of Popes Francis, Benedict XV, and John Paul II, and like the first group, the presentation of “indigenous and symbolic gifts to His Holiness,” as a “meaningful expression of the deep communion that binds the Church in Nigeria with the Holy See,” during an audience with the successor of Saint Peter.
Presenting the gifts, Archbishop Ndagoso said, “We present these two gifts as an artwork; the human face…to a distinguished leader, filial reverence and deep communion to the successors of St. Peter.”
Credit: Vatican News
In his characteristic smile, the Pontiff responded by saying, “We are very happy to welcome you.”
The Secretary General also announced that “Most of the bishops have now returned to Nigeria following the successful completion of their Ad Limina Apostolorum Visit, a sacred pilgrimage through which they renewed their communion with the Apostles and the Successor of Peter, and deepened their commitment to their pastoral mission.”
Explaining the significance of the pilgrimage, Fr. Banjo disclosed that “The visit was further enriched by highly fruitful engagements with the dicasteries of the Holy See, yielding valuable insights and concrete direction for pastoral growth, while strengthening the Church’s contribution to peace, justice, and the common good in Nigeria.”
For a country at a crossroads where Christians are facing an existential threat from jihadi groups, the Bishops’ visit to Rome afforded them an opportunity for profound prayer for the Church and the West African nation for “God’s grace for healing, unity, and hope,” in the words of the CSN.
One of the sessions. Credit: Michael Banjo
The spokesman of the CBCN used the occasion to express “sincere gratitude [to] the SMA Fathers, the OLA Sisters, Cardinal Francis Arinze, Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, and the Acton Institute for their generous hosting of the bishops at various meals; the staff of Domus Sanctae Marthae for their warm and gracious hospitality;
“All the dicasteries of the Holy See for their openness and fruitful engagement; the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria for its administrative and logistical support; and the Nigerian faithful, including our social media followers, whose prayers and encouragement sustained the bishops throughout this sacred journey.”
The Fathers of the Church during the celebration of Holy Mass. Credit: Michael Banjo
Nigerian Voices from Rome: Echoes of Ad Limina Visit
Some of the Bishops took to social media to post the sights and bites of the gracious moment in real time with their flock back in Africa.
The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev. Dr. Ignatius Kaigama clarified the meaning of the epoch making event by stating that “This is a periodic pilgrimage and report made by Catholic Bishops from each country all over the world to Rome, during which they venerate the tombs of St. Peter and St. Paul, meet with the Pope.”
The former Archbishop of Jos and onetime President of the CBCN confirmed that they visited various dicasteries and presented reports on the status of their respective Dioceses.
Most Rev. Dr. David Ajang, Catholic Bishop of the neighbouring Diocese of Lafia, Abuja Province, stated that “During the visit, the Bishops celebrated the Sacrifice of the Mass at the four major Basilicas in Rome: the Lateran, Mary Major, Saints Paul and Peter’s Basilicas. At all the Masses, prayers were offered for the country, our diocese, and the people.”
He also maintained that the bishops visited all the dicasteries and met with some eminent Nigerian prelates, such as Cardinal Francis Arinze and Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, among others.”
Bishop Ajang reflected that “The climax of the visit was the meeting between the Bishops and the Holy Father, who assured them of his prayers for Nigeria and imparted his apostolic blessing upon the Bishops and the people of Nigeria.”
On his part, the Catholic Diocese of Bauchi, northeast Nigeria, Jos Province, Most Rev. Dr. Hilary Nanmam Dachelem, CMF, told Catholic Television Bauchi Diocese that the Nigerian Bishops shared the joys, struggles, and hopes of the Church in Nigeria with the Pope.
Bishop Dachelem, who visited Siracusa Carlentini, Rome, where he received treatment, appreciated Propaganda Fidei, Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu and all the Nigerian bishops “for their care, brotherliness, prayers and support.”
Conclusion
Beyond obligatory, each Ad Limina Visit transcends administrative bureaucracy. It affords Bishops, who directly share in the unbroken apostolic succession, a spiritual encounter soaked in prayer, reflection, and communion with the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
The Church Fathers used the opportunity to entrust the Church in Nigeria to God’s providence while exchanging ideas on the pastoral realities in their various dioceses to bolster collaboration between the local Church and the Universal Church.
Accordingly, Fr. Banjo prays that “the fruits of this Ad Limina Visit continue to strengthen the Church in Nigeria and advance the cause of peace, justice, and the common good in our nation.”
