Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost arrives on the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter’s Basilica for the first time, after the cardinals ended the conclave, in The Vatican, on May 8, 2025. Robert Francis Prevost was on Thursday elected the first pope from the United States, the Vatican announced. A moderate who was close to Pope Francis and spent years as a missionary in Peru, he becomes the Catholic Church’s 267th pontiff, taking the papal name Leo XIV.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Friday congratulated the Roman Catholic Church on the election of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, describing it as a moment of renewal and hope for the global Christian community.
In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by the CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, the emergence of Pope Leo XIV marks a significant milestone in the life of the Church and is a source of great joy for Catholics worldwide.
Okoh said, “On behalf of the national leadership of CAN and the entire Christian community in Nigeria, I extend heartfelt congratulations to the Roman Catholic Church. We share in the joy of this historic moment.”
He expressed confidence that the new Pontiff will lead with wisdom and compassion, fostering peace, justice, and unity across nations.
“We believe Pope Leo XIV will continue the noble legacy of his predecessors and provide spiritual leadership that inspires faith, reconciliation, and inclusiveness,” he added.
The CAN President also offered prayers for the new Pope, asking God to grant him strength, wisdom, and good health as he takes on the sacred responsibilities of guiding the Church in a world that yearns for healing and moral direction.
