Eighteen days after the immediate past Bishop of Rome, Francis, passed away as a martyr, a new leader of the Roman Catholic Church has been elected. Pope Leo XIV, who was, until Thursday, 8 May 2025, simply just Cardinal Robert Prevost, is currently being celebrated by world leaders, including the President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, in whose country it seems he has developed a meaningful connection.

A visit nine years ago by the then-Cardinal Prevost, strictly to members of his St Augustine Order, specifically Catholic priests, has been offering deep moments of reflection for members of the church, as they take to their social media, thoughts around what frame the 267^th sovereign of the Vatican City State might take?

When his predecessor, Pope Francis, who belonged to the Jesuit Order, died on this year’s Easter Monday, the deceased, who served until the end despite his frailty, was remembered for his interest in reaching out to marginalised communities, particularly immigrants.

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The successor, Pope Leo XIV, has barely spent 24 hours in his role, leading 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, nonetheless, a picture not so far from Francis is being built around him.

As the globe continues to digest the idea that a fresh visionary has been elected, a social media-savvy local priest in Nigeria has sparked a remembrance, emphasising the degree of intimacy that exists between the incumbent Bishop of Rome and around 35 million Catholic faithful who are based here.

Posting via his X yesterday, when the white smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican City had announced the new Pope, Father Ugochukwu Ugwoke started the reminiscing about when the new Pope visited his Augustinian brothers in Nigeria in 2016, which the writer interpreted as meaning that he knows the country well.

The Order of St. Augustine holds a significant place in Catholicism, particularly among Nigerian clergy and faithful. This sect is rooted in the teachings of St. Augustine of Hippo, the order which emphasises community life, spiritual brotherhood, and service to the Church.

Over in Nigeria, the order has grown into a strong religious presence, fostering education, evangelisation, and pastoral care, and it has been mostly refreshing for even non-Catholics waking up to the news that a new Papacy had just started.

In the picture posted by Father Ugwoke, six priests were captured – Pope Leo XIV, the first pope to emerge from the United States, was spotted in the middle wearing a black cassock and flanked by members of the Order he was visiting.

Other traces of the Bishop of Rome in Nigeria, when he was still a Cardinal, extend to a different scene; this time, it was at a function that had the students from a missionary school in attendance, although the exact day of the event isn’t clear.

It showed Cardinal Robert Prevost, whose tenure as the Prior General of the Augustinian Order lasted until 2013, keeping faith in the group picture, also revealing his successor, Fr. Alejandro Moral Antón.

Pope Leo XIV embracing Bishop of Rome office

Since his election on Thursday, 8 May 2025, Pope Leo XIV has wasted no time in stepping into his new global mission as the leader of 1.4 billion Catholics. The former Cardinal Robert Prevost, known for his deep commitment to pastoral care, has already begun to outline his vision, demonstrating a strong continuity with the compassionate approach of his predecessor, Pope Francis.

Within his first few days, Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed his dedication to inclusivity, justice, and the protection of marginalised communities, values he strongly upheld during his tenure with the Order of St. Augustine. In his first public address at St. Peter’s Basilica, he urged Catholics worldwide to embrace faith in action, advocating for a Church that remains engaged in global humanitarian efforts.

Diplomatic exchanges have also begun, with messages of congratulations pouring in from world leaders, including Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, who emphasised the historic ties between Nigeria and the papacy.

As he settles into his role, the new Pontiff has signalled an intention to focus on reforming Church governance, strengthening interfaith dialogue, and advancing social justice initiatives. This is already being seen in his first mass with the Cardinals at the Vatican.

In a particular way, God has called me by your election to succeed the Prince of the Apostles and has entrusted this treasure to me so that, with his help, I may be its faithful administrator for the sake of the entire mystical body of the Church.

He has done so in order that she may be ever more fully a city set on a hill, an ark of salvation sailing through the waters of history and a beacon that illumines the dark nights of this world.

Ayodele Johnson

Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.